Winter Storm Warning Announced With 12-24 Inches of Snow, Icy Roads to Start Year

A fresh year has begun, but there's no break from the from the snow and cold, and on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, the National Weather Service (NWS) continued to issue winter weather warnings and advisories across the U.S.

Even though travel weather has been decent for much of the U.S. for New Year's Day and will remain quiet through the rest of the week, another part of the country is getting hit with freezing cold temperatures, blowing snow and road icing, according to NWS reporting, including parts of the Northeast, Upper Midwest and California.

According to a report from Fox News, Syracuse, New York, broke a record for the second-snowiest day at 24.2 inches in one day. That also was the snowiest December day on record for Syracuse. Fox News adds that "lake-effect snow will continue to affect the Great Lakes region, with up to 2 feet of snow possible near Lake Erie. Strong winds will further increase the chances of snow."

Cold Weather Continues Into First Week of 2026 With Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories

Those in the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northeast should brace for a freezing start to 2026 going into the first full week of the year. According to a research from AccuWeather, the clipper storms and frigid air from Canada will continue to cause wintry weather for the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northeast through Monday, Jan. 5.

"Many areas from the Upper Midwest to the interior Northeast will receive a new round of snow every 24 hours or less," Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, states in a Jan. 1 feature. "Highway departments and private contractors will be busy keeping up with the frequent snow episodes."

Sosnowski also says that "enough snow will fall from northern Minnesota to Michigan and on to upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and New England to make for a new round of slippery roads."

Lake-Effect Snow Causing Issues

As for the rest of New Year's Day and into Friday, Jan. 2, AccuWeather reports that "persistent lake-effect snow and another clipper storm will produce 12-24 inches of accumulation downwind of the Great Lakes, with locally higher amounts in upstate New York."

The NWS warns people to take cold weather seriously. They state to "wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing" and "wear a hat. Try to stay dry and out of the wind."

They add, "Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves."