@#3 ... bigtime lake effect snow in that part of northern New York. ...

Yup.

That is what happens in that area of NY.

Back when I worked in the "Capital District" of NY (in my case, Schenectady, near Albany, hence the name), one week we had on Monday a foot of lake effect snow that made it across the state.

Then on Wednesday, another foot of snow from the same source.

Then on Friday, another foot of snow from that same source.

Interesting thing was, each day that week, everyone (including me) showed up for work on time for the routine work day.

Another interesting thing I noticed, because the temps did not go above freezing, or even near freezing, the roads were plowed down to two or three inches of snow, and then coal ashes from the local coal electric-generator plant were spread on that two or three inches of snow for traction.