Syracuse, New York – The Lake Ontario region is entering an extended period of elevated winter weather risk as lingering cold across the Great Lakes keeps the threat for additional snowstorms high through mid-February, following one of the most expansive winter systems of the season.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, below-normal temperatures are expected to persist across areas surrounding Lake Ontario through the Feb. 7–20 period. With cold air firmly entrenched and lake waters remaining largely unfrozen, any storm system tracking through the Great Lakes or Northeast could trigger widespread snow, including intense lake-effect snowfall capable of producing heavy accumulations.
The renewed concern comes on the heels of Winter Storm Fern, a massive system that swept from Texas to Maine and impacted more than two dozen states. Fern delivered significant snowfall across upstate New York, with some communities east and southeast of Lake Ontario measuring snow totals approaching two feet. Travel conditions deteriorated rapidly along Interstates 81, 90, and Route 104, while strong winds enhanced lake-effect bands and reduced visibility across the Tug Hill Plateau and surrounding areas.
As cold conditions persist, communities from Syracuse and Oswego to Watertown, Rochester, and the eastern Lake Ontario shoreline could face renewed disruptions if similarly strong systems develop. Transportation officials warn that repeated snow events combined with persistent cold may strain plowing operations, while prolonged lake-effect bands can produce dangerous travel conditions over short distances.
Emergency management agencies are urging residents to prepare now by checking heating systems, restocking winter emergency supplies, and planning for extended travel delays during snow events. Drivers are encouraged to avoid non-essential travel during lake-effect snow and to monitor New York State DOT updates closely.
While the exact timing of future storms remains uncertain, forecasters say the overall pattern strongly supports continued winter threats. Additional advisories and warnings may be issued as confidence increases, with cold air and the risk of heavy and lake-effect snow likely remaining a recurring concern across the Lake Ontario region through mid-February.
