New Yorkers are preparing for a major winter storm expected to bring heavy snow and dangerously cold temperatures across much of the state. At a news conference Friday morning, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency, warning the storm could have widespread impacts across New York.
“Up to a foot of snow downstate can be paralyzing in a dense area like New York City,” Hochul said. “They have not seen snow totals like this in years.”
Snowfall projections continue to change and vary by region, but early forecasts suggest some parts of the state could see 12 to 18 inches of snow, with higher totals possible in localized areas. In addition to heavy snow, subzero wind chills are expected, increasing the risk of frostbite, hypothermia, and hazardous travel conditions.
While winter storms are nothing new for New Yorkers, this system is shaping up to be the first widespread, high-impact snowstorm of 2026.
To put the potential snowfall into context, data from the National Weather Service’s NOAA Online Weather Data shows the last times different regions experienced comparable snow totals:
Western New York
BuffaloSix inches or more: Jan. 14, 2024 (8.6 inches)12–18 inches or more: Jan. 17–18, 2024 (19.9 inches)Notably, the December 2022 blizzard dropped about 40 inches over two days
RochesterSix inches or more: Jan. 15, 2026 (7 inches)12–18 inches or more: March 13–15, 2017 (26.5 inches)
Central New York
BinghamtonSix inches or more: Nov. 22, 2025 (7.3 inches)12–18 inches or more: Dec. 16–17, 2020 (40 inches)
SyracuseSix inches or more: Nov. 28, 2025 (10.3 inches)12–18 inches or more: Dec. 30, 2025 (24.2 inches)
Capital Region
AlbanySix inches or more: Dec. 26–27, 2025 (6.6 inches)12–18 inches or more: Dec. 16–17, 2020 (22.9 inches)
Saratoga SpringsSix inches or more: Feb. 9, 2025 (8.5 inches)12 inches or more: March 23, 2024 (12.2 inches)18 inches or more: Dec. 17, 2020 (32 inches)
Downstate
New York City (Central Park)Six inches or more: Jan. 28–29, 2022 (8.5 inches)12 inches or more: Jan. 31–Feb. 3, 2021 (17.4 inches)18 inches or more: Jan. 22–24, 2016 (27.5 inches)
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Historic snow ahead? Comparing expected totals to past winter storms
Reporting by Madison Scott and Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
