Winter storm warnings in effect across Great Lakes and Northeast U.S.
Heavy snow and strong winds continue across the Great Lakes and Northeast U.S. on January 19, 2026, with winter storm warnings and advisories in effect across the region. Snow accumulations are forecast to reach 15–-35 cm (6–14 inches) in Michigan and up to 120 cm (4 feet) in parts of northern New York.
Image credit: The Watchers
Winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect for large parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and New York on January 19. The arctic air driven by the disrupted polar vortex continues to produce lake-effect snow and hazardous travel conditions across the region.
In Michigan, a Winter Storm Warning is effect until 19:00 EST, January 19 for Alger County. Meanwhile, Luce County, will remain under warning until 07:00 EST, January 20. Emmet, Grand Traverse, and other northern counties, are also under the warning for the same period.
Southwestern and west-central parts of the state, including Mason, Muskegon, Ottawa, Kent, and Van Buren Counties, remain under warnings until 07:00 EST, January 20. These regions are forecast to receive total snow accumulations of 15–35 cm (6–14 inches), with localized totals of over 35 cm (14 inches) in some areas, along with wind gusts reaching 65 km/h (40 mph).
Further south, Barry and Kalamazoo Counties remain under a Winter Storm Warning until 07:00 EST, January 20, while nearby Clare, Ionia, and Calhoun Counties will be under winter weather advisories through the same period. These areas are expected to receive lighter snow accumulations up to 8 cm (3 inches), accompanied by wind gusts near 55 km/h (35 mph).
Winter weather advisories remain in effect for Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, and Milwaukee counties in Wisconsin, until 12:00 CST, January 19. Winds gusting up to 65 km/h (40 mph) continue to cause blowing and drifting snow, although conditions are expected to gradually improve through the afternoon as winds weaken from west to east.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 16:00 EST, January 21, for Jefferson, Lewis, and Oswego Counties, including Watertown and the Tug Hill region. Snow accumulations of 60–120 cm (2–4 feet) are forecast, with snowfall rates reaching 10 cm (4 inches) per hour and gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph).
Niagara, Orleans, Erie, and Genesee Counties remain under the warning through 16:00 EST, with snow totals of 25–50 cm (10–20 inches) being forecast.
Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Southern Erie Counties are also under a Winter Storm Warning from 07:00 EST, January 19 through 15:00 EST, January 21.
Wind chill values across western and northern New York are expected to remain between −18 and −23°C (0 to −10°F) through the night of January 20, while whiteout conditions combined with drifting snow will continue to make travel extremely dangerous to impossible at times.
Further east, Erie County, Pennsylvania, remains under a Winter Weather Advisory until 07:00 EST, January 20, with snow totals of 5–13 cm (2–5 inches) and wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph). In New York, Hamilton County is under a Winter Weather Advisory from 19:00 EST, January 19 to 07:00 EST, January 21, with 8–15 cm (3–6 inches) of snow forecast.
Coastal regions of Maine and New Hampshire, including Cumberland, Knox, and Rockingham Counties, remain under winter weather advisories until 13:00 EST, January 19, with 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) of snowfall expected to taper off by midday.
Treacherous road conditions, scattered power outages, and reduced visibility are expected across the Great Lakes and Northeast due to blowing and drifting snow.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel and to carry emergency supplies if travel cannot be postponed. Improvement is expected from west to east late on Tuesday, January 20, as winds ease and lake-effect snowbands weaken, though scattered snow showers and freezing temperatures are expected to persist through midweek.
References:
1 Winter Storm Warning – NWS – January 19, 2026
2 Winter Weather Advisory – NWS – January 19, 2026
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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