While Chautauqua County has been experiencing relative warm weather as of recent, a winter storm watch for the region has been issued by the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

“We have to put on our winter hats again,” said Heather Kenyon, meterologist with the National Weather Service.

The winter storm watch is from 9 p.m. tonight until 9 p.m. Friday for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegheny, Northern Erie, Southern Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Niagara and Orleans counties.

Kenyon said the southern tier could be hit with 5 to 10 inches of snow during the advisory period. Kenyon expressed concern that with recent warm weather area motorists won’t be ready or expecting another round of snow.

“We’re expecting a complex storm system,” she said.

As the warm front moves out of the county, a cold front will push in that will begin as rain and transition into snow tonight.

Kenyon admitted that the winter storm watch is of “medium confidence,” meaning the details of the storm are subject to change. She urged local residents to “stay tuned to the forecast” and noted that it will be “evolving with time.”

According to the advisory, snow accumulation will depend on elevation, with higher elevations likely to receive more snow.

Driving conditions also will be affected with strong winds from 20-30 mph with gusts reaching 40 mph, heavy wet snow on roadways and the possibility of significant reductions in visibility.

Kenyon said while driving conditions will be impacted she said the National Weather Service is “not anticipating any icing” on the roads as temperatures will remain around 30 degrees.

The brunt of the storm will subside by Friday night, but Kenyon said the snow will linger through Saturday but will be “greatly reduced” by Monday. She noted that Sunday and Monday will be dry with temperatures reaching 40 degrees by Monday in the Jamestown area.

Kenyon emphasized that the forecast uncertainty will lead to variations with the amount of snow hitting the region. “Keep tabs on it,” she said of the forecast.