Honestly, if you live in Cazenovia, you already know the drill. You wake up, look out the window at the lake, and try to guess if you’re looking at a light dusting or the start of a "stay home and order pizza" kind of day. Right now, as of Saturday, January 17, 2026, the weather for cazenovia ny is doing that classic Central New York dance. It's currently a crisp 33°F, but with a 7 mph breeze coming off the southwest, it feels more like 27°F.
It’s mostly sunny at the moment—enjoy that Vitamin D while it lasts—but don't let the blue sky fool you. Things are shifting fast.
What’s Actually Happening This Week
By later today, the clouds are moving back in for real. We're looking at a high of 33°F and a low of 24°F. The big news is the 70% chance of snow during the day, which tapers off to snow showers tonight. If you’re planning on driving down Route 20, just be careful; the wind is expected to pick up to about 12 mph from the south.
Tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, the temperature takes a bit of a dive. We’re talking a high of only 23°F and a low of 14°F. It’s basically going to be a "light snow" kind of day. Not a total washout, but definitely enough to keep the driveway looking white.
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The Mid-Week Deep Freeze
If you thought Sunday was chilly, Tuesday, January 20, is going to be a wake-up call. The high is struggling to hit 11°F, with a low of 10°F. Yeah, you read that right—only a one-degree difference. With 16 mph winds coming from the west, it’s going to feel brutal.
Historically, Cazenovia averages about 29°F in January, so hitting 11°F as a high is definitely on the colder side of the spectrum. We often see these dips when the arctic air slides down across Lake Ontario.
Why Cazenovia Gets More Snow Than Syracuse
It’s not just your imagination. If you’ve ever driven from the city of Syracuse up the hill to Cazenovia, you’ve seen the "snow line." Syracuse sits at about 400 feet of elevation, while Cazenovia is perched way up around 1,200 feet.
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That extra 800 feet makes a massive difference.
Basically, as the moist air from Lake Ontario hits those hills, it’s forced upward, cools down, and dumps snow. This is that "orographic lift" scientists talk about, but for us, it just means we’re shoveling 100 inches a year while people ten miles away are just seeing wet pavement.
A Quick Reality Check on the Month
- Windiest Month: January is usually the big winner here, averaging around 15 mph.
- Cloud Cover: This month is notoriously gray. About 75% of the time, we're under a blanket of clouds.
- The "Thaw": We sometimes get a "January thaw" where the sun pops out and things melt for 48 hours, but don't count on it this week.
Looking Ahead to Next Weekend
The snow showers are going to be pretty persistent. From Wednesday through next Saturday, expect high temperatures to hover between 15°F and 28°F. We aren't seeing any massive blizzards on the immediate horizon, but the "nickel and dime" snow—those constant 1-2 inch dustings—is definitely the theme.
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If you’re heading out, keep an eye on the wind direction. Southwest and West winds are the ones that usually feed those lake-effect bands right into our backyard.
Actionable Steps for the Week:
- Check the Salt: With Tuesday’s drop to 11°F, standard rock salt stops working well. Swap to calcium chloride if you need to clear ice.
- Battery Check: These 10°F nights are notorious for killing older car batteries. If yours is over four years old, maybe get it tested at a local shop.
- Elevation Prep: Remember that if it’s raining in Manlius, it’s probably snowing by the time you hit the Cazenovia village limits. Pack the brush.