Buffalo, New York – Temperatures will rise above freezing across western New York today, offering a brief stretch of milder weather before colder air returns tonight. Roads along I-90, I-190, U.S. 20, Route 5 and Route 219 will remain wet through the afternoon as widespread readings climb into the mid-30s and low-40s. North-central New York, however, will fall below freezing overnight, setting the stage for scattered slick patches by early Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, another round of precipitation arrives tonight and lasts through Friday night. While most of western New York will stay warm enough for rain, temperatures east of Lake Ontario—including areas near Watertown, Lowville and Tug Hill—may drop quickly enough to support a wintry mix, especially after 2 a.m. Friday. Forecasters caution that even brief temperature dips below freezing could cause untreated surfaces to ice.
Commuters traveling the I-90 corridor between Buffalo, Batavia and Rochester should expect reduced visibility and hydroplaning risk this evening, followed by localized freeze-backs in colder pockets before sunrise Friday. Lake-effect enhancement is not expected to be significant but could briefly increase precipitation intensity north of I-190.
Friday night brings continued mixed precipitation east of Lake Ontario while western New York cools steadily, ending the week with highs returning to more typical February values. Road conditions may fluctuate rapidly in areas where temperatures sit near the freezing mark.
Additional updates may follow if colder air expands farther west or if the wintry mix zone widens overnight.
