Cold Snap Brings Potential Snow Showers to Western New York

Accumulating snow expected overnight into Tuesday as temperatures plummet below normal

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:07am

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A surge of cold air across the Northeast has led to a transition from the typical April showers to potentially accumulating snow showers in Western New York on Monday night into Tuesday. Forecasters expect 1-3 inches of snow for areas north of I-90 and the higher terrain of the Western Southern Tier, with around an inch possible in lower elevations farther from the lakes. Temperatures will struggle to reach the upper 20s to mid 30s on Tuesday, about 15 degrees below normal, before gradually warming back to seasonal levels by the end of the week.

Why it matters

This late-season winter weather system is an unusual occurrence for early April in Western New York, which typically experiences milder spring conditions by this time of year. The cold snap and potential snow accumulations could impact Dyngus Day festivities and other outdoor activities in the region.

The details

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Tony Ansuini, a colder air mass is settling into the region, leading to the transition from rain showers to snow showers. Temperatures on Monday will only reach the lower 40s, with wind chills in the 30s due to a light breeze. The higher terrain and areas north of I-90 toward the south shore of Lake Ontario are expected to see the highest snow accumulations of 1-3 inches, while lower elevations farther from the lakes could see around an inch of snow. The snow is expected to continue into Tuesday morning, with afternoon highs only reaching the upper 20s to mid 30s, about 15 degrees below normal.

  • On Monday, scattered rain and wet snow showers are expected for Dyngus Day festivities in Buffalo, with little accumulation expected.
  • Monday night into Tuesday morning, 1-3 inches of snow is possible for areas north of I-90 and the higher terrain of the Western Southern Tier.
  • Tuesday afternoon, temperatures will only reach the upper 20s to mid 30s, around 15 degrees below normal.
  • By Wednesday, temperatures will return to seasonal levels around 50 degrees.
  • Thursday and Friday are expected to see highs in the 60s, and by the weekend into early next week, temperatures could reach the 70s.

The players

Tony Ansuini

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

National Weather Service Buffalo

The local office of the National Weather Service that serves Western New York.

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What they’re saying

“We have a colder air mass that's going to settle in for the next couple days.”

— Tony Ansuini, Meteorologist

“We'll be back to where we should be by the time we get to Wednesday, it'll be around 50.”

— Tony Ansuini, Meteorologist

What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and provide updated forecasts as the cold snap and potential snow showers progress through the region.

The takeaway

This late-season winter weather system is an unusual occurrence for early April in Western New York, which could impact outdoor activities and events. However, the cold temperatures are expected to be short-lived, with a return to more seasonal spring-like conditions by the end of the week.