Buffalo, NY – A sharp chill is on the horizon for western New York as a powerful cold front races in midweek, just as Thanksgiving travel ramps up. After a mild start to the week, the region is bracing for winds near 50 mph and the season’s first flirtation with snow by late Wednesday. Travelers heading out early should prepare for slick roads and rapidly changing conditions through Thursday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, a strong cold front will cross the area Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night. Winds will strengthen behind the front, gusting between 40 and 50 mph across higher terrain and open areas. Temperatures will fall sharply from the mid-50s into the lower 30s, bringing a possible rain-to-snow mix late Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving itself looks blustery and cold, with highs near 37°F and scattered snow showers lingering through Friday. By the weekend, temperatures may dip into the upper 20s at night—an early taste of winter across the Lake Erie shoreline and inland counties.
Residents are urged to secure outdoor decorations and plan extra travel time Wednesday evening through Thursday morning, especially along I-90 and Route 400, where visibility could drop quickly in snow squalls.
Five-Day Outlook for Buffalo, NY:
- Tuesday: Showers, high 52°F.
- Wednesday: Breezy, rain changing to snow. High 55°F, low 31°F.
- Thanksgiving Day: Snow showers, windy. High 37°F.
- Friday: Snow showers, low 29°F.
- Saturday: Cold, partly cloudy, high near 34°F.
