Honestly, if you've lived in New York for more than a week, you know the drill. One minute you're checking the app for a "light dusting," and the next you’re digging your sedan out of a snowbank that definitely wasn't there at midnight. Right now, everyone's asking the same thing: how much snow is New York getting?
The answer depends entirely on which part of the Empire State you call home.
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As of mid-January 2026, we are seeing a massive divide. While New York City is mostly dodging the heavy hits, Upstate and Western New York are basically living inside a snow globe that someone forgot to stop shaking. We’re talking about feet, not inches, in the lake-effect zones.
The Current Totals: Who’s Getting Buried?
Western New York is the epicenter of the chaos right now. If you're in Buffalo or the surrounding Niagara Frontier, you've likely seen 5 to 10 inches already this week. Some spots in the Boston Hills or along the Chautauqua Ridge are looking at closer to 12 inches by the time this system wraps up Friday morning.
Up in Oswego County? It's a different world. Towns like Lacona and Richland have reported staggering totals—some spots topping 50 inches over the last several days. That’s nearly five feet of snow.
Recent Snowfall by the Numbers
- Lacona: 58.5 inches
- Buffalo: 34.8 inches (seasonal total)
- Syracuse: 80.7 inches (seasonal total)
- NYC (Central Park): 7.2 inches (seasonal total)
It’s kinda wild to see the contrast. While Syracuse is leading the "Golden Snowball" race like usual, the City is sitting at a relatively pitiful 7.2 inches for the whole season.
Why the City Is Missing Out (For Now)
If you're in the five boroughs, you've probably noticed a lot more rain than white stuff lately. Yesterday was a perfect example—downstate was mostly spared the heavy totals that crushed the Finger Lakes.
But don't get too comfortable. The forecast for the next week shows some "nuisance snow." We’re looking at a 25% to 35% chance of snow on Saturday, January 17, and again toward the end of next week, January 24-25. It probably won't be a blizzard, but it's enough to make the BQE a nightmare.
The Lake Effect Machine
The real reason the totals are so high out west is the "lake effect." When that bitterly cold arctic air moves over the relatively warmer waters of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, it creates those narrow, intense bands of snow. One town gets a dusting; the town three miles away gets a foot. It’s localized, it’s frustrating, and it’s classic New York winter.
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What to Expect This Weekend
The National Weather Service has been keeping Winter Storm Warnings active for counties like Wayne and northern Cayuga through Friday. They’re expecting an additional 5 to 10 inches in those specific areas.
For the rest of us, the big story is the cold. We’re talking wind chills hitting below zero in Western New York tonight. Even in the city, temperatures are hovering in the low 30s, with "feels like" temps dropping into the 20s.
Practical Next Steps for New Yorkers
- Check the "Feels Like" Temp: Don't just look at the 30°F on your phone. If the wind is coming from the west at 12 mph, you're actually dealing with 21°F.
- Clear the Exhaust: If you're Upstate and your car is buried, make sure the tailpipe is clear before you start the engine to avoid carbon monoxide buildup.
- Watch the Thruway: Route 104 and the stretches of the Thruway near the Lake Ontario shoreline are notorious for white-out conditions right now. If you don't have to be on the road, don't be.
- Salt Early: With temperatures expected to drop to 14°F by Monday, any slush on the ground today is going to turn into a sheet of glass.
The bottom line? New York is getting plenty of snow—it's just being picky about where it lands. Keep your shovel handy, even if you're downstate, because Jan-March is usually when the Atlantic coast finally decides to catch up.