Honestly, if you live in Syracuse, you already know the drill. You look out the window, see a patch of blue sky, and by the time you've found your car keys, there’s a wall of white fluff screaming off Lake Ontario. It’s January 2026, and the "Salt City" is currently living up to its reputation for being one of the snowiest spots in the country.
Right now, it’s a bit of a frozen tundra out there. As of late Thursday night/early Friday morning, the temperature is sitting at a crisp 12°F, but the wind is biting. With gusts coming out of the west at 11 mph, it actually feels like -2°F. If you’re heading out, this isn't "light jacket" weather; it's "where did I put my thermal socks" weather.
The 10 Day Weather Syracuse NY Outlook: A Snow Globe Life
The upcoming week is basically a rotating door of snow showers. We aren't seeing one massive, city-stopping blizzard in the immediate data, but rather a persistent, daily dusting that keeps the DPW crews busy and your driveway never quite clear.
Friday, January 16: Expect a high of 29°F. We’ve got snow showers during the day with about a 25% chance of accumulation, bumping up to 35% at night. It’s going to stay cloudy, with the mercury dropping to 16°F.
Saturday, January 17: This is your "warm" day. It’s hitting 37°F. Don't get too excited, though; the snow chance jumps to 45% during the day. It’s that wet, heavy slushy stuff that’s a total pain to shovel. Nighttime lows will hang around 25°F.
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Sunday, January 18: The sun might actually make a cameo! We’re looking at a partly sunny day with a high of 26°F. It’s a brief reprieve before snow showers move back in Sunday night as the temperature dips to 20°F.
Why the Lake Just Won't Quit
People always ask why Syracuse gets hammered while places just an hour away stay dry. It’s the Lake Ontario "snow machine." Because the lake water is still relatively warm compared to the arctic air mass moving down from Canada, it creates these intense, narrow bands of lake-effect snow.
Essentially, the air picks up moisture over the water and dumps it the second it hits the shore. This is why you can have 6 inches of snow in Cicero and just a dusting in Onondaga Hill. It’s localized, chaotic, and frankly, a bit impressive.
Mid-Week Deep Freeze
Once we hit Monday and Tuesday, things take a turn for the "actually painful."
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- Monday, Jan 19: High of 25°F, Low of 9°F.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: This is the big one. The high is only 11°F. At night, it drops to 8°F. Wind speeds will pick up to 19 mph, which means the wind chill is going to be brutal.
Wednesday through the following Sunday (Jan 21-25) stays remarkably consistent. Highs will hover in the mid-20s, and lows will stay in the teens. Almost every single day has a 20% to 35% chance of snow showers. It's basically the Syracuse winter baseline.
Real Talk on Records
While this 10-day stretch feels cold, it’s nowhere near the record books yet. Syracuse has seen -26°F in the past. On the flip side, we’ve had January days hit 70°F. This year, we're sticking to the "average" January misery—gray, snowy, and breezy.
Actually, 2024 was one of the warmest years on record for the region, and meteorologists like Jim Teske have been tracking a weird trend of record highs over the last few years. But this week? This week is a reminder that winter still knows how to bite.
Survival Tips for the Next Week
You've lived here, or you're visiting, so you know the basics. But a few things bear repeating given the sub-zero wind chills expected Tuesday.
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First, check your tire pressure. This constant swing from 37°F on Saturday to 8°F on Tuesday is going to make your "low air" light go crazy. Second, if you're driving the Thruway or I-81, watch for those sudden whiteouts near the airport and North Syracuse. The wind is coming from the west and northwest, which is the perfect angle for lake enhancement.
Keep the salt bucket by the door. With temperatures dropping into the single digits mid-week, standard rock salt stops working as well. You might want to switch to calcium chloride if you want to actually clear the ice on Wednesday morning.
Stay warm, keep the gas tank at least half full for weight and safety, and maybe just embrace the fact that we live in a literal snow globe for the next 10 days.
Actionable Steps:
- Prep for Tuesday: This will be the coldest day of the week. Ensure your outdoor pipes are insulated and your pets stay indoors.
- Check the Saturday Slush: Since it’ll be 37°F, try to clear your driveway before the freeze on Sunday, or you'll be dealing with a sheet of ice.
- Wiper Blades: If yours are streaking now, change them before the Saturday snow hits; you'll need the visibility.
Would you like me to look up specific snowfall accumulation estimates for the Tug Hill region?