You’ve stepped outside in Valley Stream, thinking it’s a standard New York morning, only to realize the air feels completely different than it did just five miles west in Queens. Honestly, that’s the Valley Stream charm—or curse, depending on if you forgot your umbrella.
Currently, as of the early hours of Friday, January 16, 2026, it is 23°F out there. But let’s be real: with a 15 mph northwest wind whipping through the streets, the "feels like" temperature is sitting at a biting 10°F. It’s clear tonight, which sounds nice, but it basically means there’s no cloud cover to trap whatever heat we had left from yesterday.
Why Valley Stream Weather is Its Own Beast
Most people group us in with the city. They shouldn't. Valley Stream sits in that weird atmospheric transition zone where the urban heat island of NYC starts to lose its grip and the Atlantic Ocean begins to exert its will.
We’re technically a humid subtropical-to-continental hybrid. That’s fancy talk for "expect anything." Because we’re tucked into the south shore, we get these microclimates. In the summer, you might get a sea breeze that drops the temp by ten degrees in twenty minutes. In the winter? That same proximity to the water can turn a "guaranteed" snowstorm into a slushy, freezing rain mess because the ocean is just a few degrees too warm.
✨ Don't miss: Why Every Wardrobe Needs a Black Cowboy Shirt Mens Styles are Taking Over
Speaking of snow, today—Friday, January 16—is looking partly sunny with a high of 35°F. Don't get too comfortable with the dry pavement, though. There's a 25% chance of snow tonight as the clouds roll in.
The Forecast: A Week of "Maybe"
If you’re looking at the week ahead for weather for valley stream, it's a classic Long Island January mix.
Saturday, January 17, is going to be a mess. We're looking at a high of 40°F with rain and snow likely during the day. The humidity is going to spike to 68%, making that 40 degrees feel a lot more damp and bone-chilling than it sounds on paper.
📖 Related: Athena at the Parthenon: What Most People Get Wrong
Sunday follows suit with more rain and snow and a high of 36°F. Basically, if you have outdoor plans this weekend, you might want to reconsider.
The real deep freeze hits early next week. By Tuesday, January 20, the high only reaches 21°F. That is properly cold. With a steady 18 mph wind coming from the west, the wind chill is going to be brutal. If you haven't dripped your pipes or checked your salt supply, Monday is your last window before the ground turns into a brick.
The Flooding Nobody Wants to Talk About
Here is the part most real estate brochures skip. Valley Stream has a complicated relationship with water. About 44.7% of properties here are currently at some risk of flooding. This isn't just about hurricanes like Sandy, though that’s the ghost that still haunts the South Shore. It's about "nuisance flooding."
✨ Don't miss: Bunting 4th of July: How to Not Ruin Your House and What the Flag Code Actually Says
Because we’re low-lying, a heavy afternoon downpour can overwhelm the storm drains faster than you can say "Sunrise Highway." If you live near the local streams—hence the name of the village—you already know the drill. Heavy rain plus a high tide is the recipe for a soggy basement. Experts from the New York State Climate Impacts Assessment are already pointing out that these "1-in-100-year" flood events are starting to look more like 1-in-20-year events.
How to Actually Survive a Valley Stream Winter
- The Layering Rule: Since the wind off the water changes the "perceived" temperature so fast, you need a windbreaker over your fleece. A heavy wool coat looks great, but if it's not wind-resistant, the northwest gusts will cut right through it.
- The "Salt Early" Trick: Don't wait for the snow to stop on Saturday. Because we're expecting a rain-to-snow transition, that bottom layer will freeze into a sheet of ice if you don't pre-treat your walkway.
- Watch the Gages: If you’re in a flood-prone pocket, keep the USGS National Water Dashboard bookmarked. It monitors stream levels in real-time. When the gages start spiking, it’s time to move the car to higher ground.
- Emergency Alerts: Don't rely on a weather app that’s pulling data from Central Park. Text "NASSAU" to 333111 to get localized alerts from the NY Division of Homeland Security.
Valley Stream weather is unpredictable because of where we are on the map. We're the buffer between the concrete jungle and the Atlantic. It makes for beautiful springs and autumns, but it means you have to stay sharp in January.
Check your tire pressure today. Cold snaps like the one coming Tuesday will drop your PSI faster than you think, and nobody wants to be stuck on the side of the Southern State when it’s 21 degrees out.