Albany, NY – New York heads into the holidays under NOAA’s “equal chances” temperature outlook, but forecasters say residents should still expect multiple opportunities for snow or mixed precipitation from December 20 through January 2. With Christmas and New Years inside this window, much of the state may face wintry travel conditions.
According to NOAA, New York is included in a broad EC zone stretching from Washington to New Jersey, meaning temperatures could trend slightly above or below normal depending on storm timing. However, New York’s late-December climate overwhelmingly favors snow, especially across upstate regions, when nighttime cooling and shallow Arctic fronts move through.
For precipitation, New York is also positioned in an equal-chances zone, pointing toward near-normal totals. At this time of year, that typically means snow for inland and upstate regions—including the Capital District, Mohawk Valley, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, and Western New York—and a rain/snow mix or snow-to-rain transitions along the coast and downstate areas.
Communities across New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo should prepare for slick roads, reduced visibility, and shifting precipitation types throughout the Dec. 20–Jan. 2 holiday stretch. Lake-effect zones east of Lakes Erie and Ontario may experience periods of enhanced snowfall, especially if colder air funnels in behind passing systems.
If one of the expected coastal storms tracks close enough to the shoreline, portions of the state could see a White Christmas or a snowy start to 2026—particularly across upstate New York.
Travelers are encouraged to monitor forecast updates as storm tracks become clearer closer to the holiday window.
