ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A light layer of snow began to blanket the Buffalo Bills’ training facility on Friday as the team wrapped up their last practice of the week inside Highmark Stadium.

With a lake-effect storm warning already issued, this might be a preview of what to expect come Sunday night, when the Bills, who currently lead the AFC East, face off against the San Francisco 49ers. Forecasts predict that between 20 to 30 inches of snow could accumulate over a 12-to-16-hour timeframe, starting late Saturday afternoon.

Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman seemed unfazed, mentioning that his time at Michigan State had him accustomed to snowy conditions.

While East Lansing does experience snow, it typically doesn’t reach the intensity of the storms that can strike the Buffalo area due to its proximity to Lake Erie.

Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz expressed concerns for those planning to travel to the game, yet reassured that there were no plans to postpone the event. “We do not expect the game to be postponed or anything like that. The game will go on,” he stated during a press briefing. “Now, we’ve had games that are colder than that. Just got to dress appropriately. So people need to be prepared. It’s the first real cold of the season. We haven’t had anything like this all year.”

In preparation for the impending storm, plows and backhoes were already being dispatched to the stadium on Friday, with a dump truck salting parking areas and roads in anticipation of heavy snowfall. The Bills also called for volunteers willing to assist with snow shoveling, although it remains unclear if or when assistance will be required.

Such winter conditions aren’t unfamiliar to either the Buffalo region or the Bills organization.

In January, severe lake-effect snow necessitated the rescheduling of the Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game had to be postponed by a day due to the storm occurring right at the scheduled game time, compounded by a driving ban that delayed stadium clearance.

Two years prior, a home game against the Cleveland Browns was relocated to Detroit due to a similar weather-related issue.

“We’re trying to stay on top of it,” coach Sean McDermott commented on Friday, recognizing the challenges posed by the rapid weather changes characteristic of the area. “You guys know things change around here quickly with the weather coming off the lake and everything. So do the best we can,” he added, noting the unpredictability of the weather adds an additional layer of complexity to their preparations.

Currently, the Bills hold a record of 9-2, marking their strongest start since 1992, and a victory on Sunday would secure their fifth consecutive AFC East title.