CNY Weather Alerts & Conditions
Syracuse & Central New York Weather
CNY Signal continuously monitors the National Weather Service, local radar, and ground-level conditions across Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga, and Cortland counties. When lake effect hits or a nor'easter rolls through, we alert you first.
COVERAGE
What Our Weather Center Tracks
Syracuse sits in one of the most weather-volatile corridors in the Northeast. Between the lake effect machine off Lake Ontario, the elevation changes from the Tug Hill Plateau to the Finger Lakes lowlands, and the nor'easters that track up the coast, Central New York gets hit with just about everything Mother Nature has to offer.
CNY Signal's Weather Center aggregates data from the National Weather Service office in Binghamton (which covers our area), the Open-Meteo API, NWS radar from Montague (KTYX) and Binghamton (KBGM), and local automated weather stations. We parse every alert, watch, warning, and advisory issued for the CNY region and deliver them in plain language.
ALERTS
NWS Alert Types We Monitor
Winter Storm Warnings
Heavy snow, ice, or blizzard conditions expected. CNY averages 6-8 winter storm warnings per season.
Lake Effect Snow Warnings
Narrow, intense snow bands off Lake Ontario. Can drop 2-4 inches per hour in Oswego, northern Onondaga, and Tug Hill.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
Damaging winds, large hail, or tornado potential. Summer convection along the lake breeze boundary can be intense.
Flood Watches & Warnings
Onondaga Creek, Harbor Brook, and low-lying areas in the city are particularly flood-prone during spring melt and heavy rain events.
Wind Chill & Extreme Cold
Wind chills below -20F are not uncommon in January and February. We alert for dangerous cold that threatens exposed skin and pipes.
Heat Advisories
Summer heat index above 100F with humidity. Syracuse's valley geography traps heat and moisture, making July and August oppressive.
SEASONS
Syracuse Weather by Season
Syracuse averages about 127 inches of snow per year, making it one of the snowiest major cities in the United States. Here is what each season typically brings.
Winter (Dec to Feb)
Lake effect snow bands, nor'easters, wind chills below -15F. I-81 and I-690 are frequent trouble spots. Syracuse averages 65+ inches of snow in these three months alone.
Spring (Mar to May)
Rapid snowmelt flooding along Onondaga Creek, frost heaves on county roads, and late-season lake effect squalls into April. Temperatures swing from 30s to 70s within the same week.
Summer (Jun to Aug)
Pop-up thunderstorms, sometimes severe. Lake breeze convergence zones can trigger intense cells over the city. Humid days with heat indices above 95F. July averages 83F.
Fall (Sep to Nov)
Peak foliage mid-October. First frost typically mid-October, first measurable snow often arrives before Thanksgiving. November lake effect becomes increasingly common.
LAKE EFFECT
Understanding Lake Effect Snow in CNY
Lake effect snow is the defining weather phenomenon of Central New York. When cold Arctic air flows over the relatively warmer water of Lake Ontario, it picks up moisture and dumps it in narrow, intense bands across the region.
The primary lake effect snow band from Lake Ontario typically sets up across Oswego County and northern Onondaga County, but it can shift. When the wind direction is northwest to north-northwest, the band can park right over the city of Syracuse. When it shifts more westerly, Tug Hill and the eastern Lake Ontario shore bear the brunt.
- Snowfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour are common within the band
- Visibility drops to near zero during heavy squalls
- Bands are narrow, one side of town can get 18 inches while the other sees flurries
- Lake effect season runs November through February, peaking in December before ice cover develops
DRIVING
Winter Driving in the Syracuse Area
CNY Signal integrates weather conditions with 511NY road data to give you a complete picture of winter driving safety. Here are the corridors we watch most closely:
- I-81 North/South, The main corridor through the city. Lake effect bands crossing I-81 near the Tully and LaFayette exits create whiteout conditions
- I-690 East/West, The expressway through downtown. Bridge decks freeze first, especially near Onondaga Lake Parkway
- I-481 Loop, Eastern suburbs. Elevation changes between DeWitt and Fayetteville cause variable conditions
- NY Route 5 (Genesee Street), Heavy commuter route west toward Camillus and Fairmount
- NY Route 11 (Salina / N. Salina), North-south city arterial, heavy truck traffic
- NY Route 92, Manlius, Fayetteville, east toward Cazenovia. Elevation-dependent snow amounts
DATA SOURCES
Where Our Weather Data Comes From
CNY Signal aggregates weather data from multiple authoritative sources to provide the most accurate picture of conditions in the Syracuse metro area:
- National Weather Service (NWS), Binghamton Office (BGM), All watches, warnings, advisories, and forecasts for our zone
- NWS Radar, KTYX (Montague) and KBGM (Binghamton), Dual-pol radar for precipitation type and intensity
- Open-Meteo API, High-resolution model data for temperature, wind, humidity, and precipitation forecasts
- 511NY / NYSDOT, Road conditions, winter driving advisories, plow camera imagery
- RainViewer, Real-time precipitation radar overlay
- Blitzortung, Real-time lightning detection network
FAQ
CNY Weather, Frequently Asked Questions
How much snow does Syracuse get per year?
Syracuse averages about 127 inches (10.6 feet) of snow annually, making it consistently one of the top 3 snowiest major cities in the United States. The record season was 1992-93 with 192.1 inches. Most of this comes from a combination of lake effect snow off Lake Ontario and synoptic storm systems (nor'easters).
What is lake effect snow and why does Syracuse get so much?
Lake effect snow forms when cold air passes over the warmer water of Lake Ontario, picking up moisture that falls as snow downwind. Syracuse is positioned about 35 miles southeast of Lake Ontario, right in the path of the predominant lake effect snow band. The Tug Hill Plateau to the northeast gets even more, but Syracuse catches the western edge of many events.
How does CNY Signal deliver weather alerts?
We monitor NWS alerts in real time and deliver them via our website dashboard, push notifications, and SMS text messages. Subscribers can customize which alert types and severity levels they want to receive. Our weather dashboard also shows live radar, hourly forecasts, and air quality data.
What NWS forecast zone covers Syracuse?
Syracuse falls within NWS forecast zone NYZ314 (Onondaga County). The NWS office responsible for Syracuse is the Binghamton, NY office (Weather Forecast Office BGM). Our system monitors all alerts issued for Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, and Cortland counties.
When is the worst time to drive in Syracuse?
The most dangerous driving conditions typically occur during lake effect events in December and January, especially when a band sets up across I-81 or I-690. Morning rush hour (7-8:30 AM) during active lake effect is the single most hazardous commute window. CNY Signal integrates weather data with 511NY road conditions to give you a real-time safety picture before you leave.
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EXPLORE CNY SIGNAL
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