Buffalo, NY – A developing La Niña will likely deliver a wetter, stormier Winter 2026 across New York and Pennsylvania, reinforcing a pattern familiar to many Northeastern residents.
According to the National Weather Service Binghamton, cooler-than-normal Pacific waters typically shift the jet stream northward, sending moist, cold air over the Great Lakes and boosting lake-effect snowfall along the I-90 corridor. The setup could bring periodic snow squalls to Buffalo, Erie, and Syracuse, while mixed rain and ice episodes affect Pittsburgh and central Pennsylvania.
Forecasters expect temperatures to hover near seasonal norms but drop sharply behind each cold front. Travel delays are possible on I-81 and I-79 when lake-effect bands intensify. Residents are urged to service furnaces, prepare emergency kits, and inspect tires before the first major outbreak. Utility crews throughout the region are conducting tree-trimming and line-reinforcement work to limit power interruptions from heavy, wet snow.
While La Niña often keeps the southern Mid-Atlantic milder, the core of its energy usually targets the lower Great Lakes and interior Northeast — a recipe for frequent precipitation bursts and a classic cold, active winter across New York and Pennsylvania.
