Wintry Mix to Impact Upstate NY This Week

Freezing rain, sleet, and snow could affect travel, especially near Lake Ontario.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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After mild temperatures, western and central New York face a wintry mix this week. Freezing rain, sleet, and snow could impact travel, especially near Lake Ontario. Forecasters say some areas could see up to a tenth of an inch of ice, and motorists should be prepared for the possibility of a light glaze on untreated roads, especially during the morning commute.

Why it matters

The wintry weather could create hazardous driving conditions and disrupt travel plans for residents and commuters in the affected areas of upstate New York. The freezing rain and ice accumulation pose risks to public safety and infrastructure.

The details

On Tuesday, highs are expected to reach around 40 degrees in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse before a storm system moves in early Wednesday. Freezing rain is possible Wednesday morning in counties along the southern Lake Ontario shoreline before switching to sleet and then rain by midday. South of the New York State Thruway, precipitation is expected to fall mainly as rain. Meanwhile, 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall in areas east of Lake Ontario, including Jefferson County, during the same time frame.

  • Tuesday's high reached 47 degrees in Rochester, 44 in Syracuse and 41 in Buffalo — well above the mid-30s that are typical for mid-February.
  • Freezing rain is possible Wednesday morning in counties along the southern Lake Ontario shoreline before switching to sleet and then rain by midday.

The players

National Weather Service in Buffalo

The National Weather Service office that issued the forecast for the wintry weather in upstate New York.

David Thomas

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo who provided details on the expected weather conditions.

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What they’re saying

“Forecasters say some areas could see up to a tenth of an inch of ice. Motorists should be prepared for the possibility of a light glaze on untreated roads, especially during the morning commute.”

— David Thomas, Meteorologist (stargazette.com)

The takeaway

Residents and commuters in upstate New York should closely monitor weather forecasts and be prepared for potentially hazardous driving conditions due to the expected freezing rain, sleet, and snow this week. The wintry mix could impact travel and pose risks to public safety, underscoring the importance of winter weather preparedness.