Provisional is lake effect issue for you?
No, elevation and the which side of the hill is facing ( Winter storm usually comes in from the South and Southwest ) determine the quantity of snow in the neighborhoods.
Large body of water actually reduce the changing of temperature since it retains energy. Our neighborhood's elevation is approx. between 800'-900' , more expensive homes up higher with view would be close to 1.200' high.
Luckily I changed tires recently and the new tires really gives that extra layer of security. A full sized SUV also helped. If the snow reaches the high of the bumper and under carriage then, nothing will move well on a hilly roadway.
Of course, driver experience is important, cause I had seen other SUV and AWD abandoned alongside the road. A few in the ditch..... boxed in with walls of snow pile, shoveled by the snow plow.
All major roadways were cleared after 1.P.M. Side streets still have thick pile of snow. I am glade no major traffic today as many were having a snow day at home with their family.
