National Weather Service Issues Winter Storm Warning for Up to 20 Inches of Snow, 50 MPH Winds, and -15° Wind Chills
A major winter storm is set to bring snowstorms, powerful winds, extreme cold, and whiteout conditions, creating some dangers. This article will detail those impending conditions and provide valuable tips to help those affected make informed driving decisions and protect their home from damage.
A Major Winter Storm Threatens New York as Heavy Snow, High Winds, and Dangerous Driving Conditions Move In
On January 17th, 2026, the National Weather Service issued an "urgent" winter storm warning for western and northern New York. The impending weather system is set to affect the cities of Niagara Falls, Medina, Buffalo, Batavia, Oswego, Watertown, Warsaw, Jamestown, Olean, Orchard Park, Springville, and Lowville. Blizzard conditions are expected to begin on Sunday, January 18th at 7 a.m EST, and last until 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 21st. That means that the storm is forecasted to be in effect during the upcoming holiday, MLK Jr. Day
Heavy Snowfall:
Niagara Falls, Medina, Buffalo, Warsaw, Jamestown, Olean, Orchard Park, Springville, and Batavia are expected to cope with between 10 and 20 inches of snow buildup before the storm passes. On Monday and Tuesday, those cities are forecasted to have two inches of flakes falling per hour at times, with the "greatest snow accumulation across the northern Chautauqua Ridge, Boston Hills, and Buffalo Southtowns." Alternatively, Oswego, Watertown, and Lowville will only be facing one to three inches by the end of the storm.
High-Speed Winds:
50 MPH gusts are possible in the most affected areas, which are Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Jamestown, and others, while Oswego, Watertown, and Lowville could see up to 45 MPH.
Dangerous Driving Conditions:
Driving will be hazardous across all impacted cities, with Oswego, Watertown, and Lowville facing "very difficult to impossible" conditions at times. Traveling in the other cities affected by the storms during the same period will be even riskier, according to the government agency's warning. "Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Travel will be very difficult in deep snow-covered roads."
Temperatures Will Feel Sub-Zero:
The winter storm warning doesn't state any information about the actual temperatures that the residents of the affected areas can expect before Wednesday. Most affected cities will have to deal with wind chills that will make it feel like between 0°F and -10°F, with -15°F at times in areas such as Warsaw, Jamestown, Olean, Orchard Park, and Springville.
How To Protect Your Home and Choose Which Vehicles To Drive During a Snowstorm
With heavy snow expected to several New York cities, it's natural for residents to worry about their homes, since nobody wants to deal with a leak. Unfortunately, Men's Journal's Home DIY and Landscaping Writer, Timothy Dale, explained that the weight can do much more damage to your home than that. Dale wrote that buildup on a roof can cause "stress on the beams and the entire frame" as well as "visible sagging of the roofline and ceiling." Dale's article states that using a roof rake to remove snow in layers is a smart choice if safely possible and details some other options that could work well to dislodge the white stuff for some homeowners.
Men's Journal Automotive Writer Brian Iselin has also provided excellent winter storm advice that may surprise some readers. Since many people are wisely concerned about vehicle safety, many modern cars come with technological advancements designed to make driving in snow less dangerous. Despite that, Iselin advises anyone who has to travel in winter conditions to opt to drive an "old beater" instead of a new EV due to the classic car likely having better tire traction. Ideally, the people affected by New York's weather warning will stay home. But, if they have to travel, Iselin advises they choose "the 'ugly' car with good tires."