Alert archive / New York / Extreme Cold Warnings in 2026
Extreme Cold Warning 2, NWS Buffalo, NY
NWS Buffalo, NY issued this extreme cold warning at Jan 29, 2026, 12:41 PM EST for Jefferson County, Lewis County, New York. It took effect at Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM EST. It was in force for 18 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jan 29, 2026, 12:41 PM EST (17:41 UTC)
- In effect from
- Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM EST
- Expired
- Jan 30, 2026, 1:00 PM EST
- In force
- 18 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Buffalo, NY
Counties Jefferson County, NY, Lewis County, NY
The radar
The Ft Drum radar (KTYX), 16 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:46 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
The nearest sounding before it
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 205 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1039 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 86 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 119 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
300 WWUS71 KBUF 291741 NPWBUF URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1241 PM EST Thu Jan 29 2026 NYZ007-008-301500- /O.UPG.KBUF.CW.Y.0004.260130T0000Z-260130T1500Z/ /O.NEW.KBUF.EC.W.0002.260130T0000Z-260130T1800Z/ Jefferson-Lewis- Including the cities of Watertown and Lowville 1241 PM EST Thu Jan 29 2026 ...EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM EST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero expected. * WHERE...Jefferson and Lewis Counties. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 1 PM EST Friday. * IMPACTS...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 15 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 15 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 25 below zero or colder. && $$ NYZ001>006-010>014-019>021-085-301500- /O.CON.KBUF.CW.Y.0004.260130T0000Z-260130T1500Z/ Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Northern Erie- Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston-Ontario-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus- Allegany-Southern Erie- Including the cities of Niagara Falls, Medina, Rochester, Newark, Fair Haven, Oswego, Buffalo, Batavia, Warsaw, Geneseo, Canandaigua, Jamestown, Olean, Wellsville, Orchard Park, and Springville 1241 PM EST Thu Jan 29 2026 ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 24 below zero expected. * WHERE...Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Oswego, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Friday. * IMPACTS...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 24 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder. && $$ HSK
3 follow-up statements
555 WWUS71 KBUF 301500 NPWBUF URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1000 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 NYZ019>021-301800- /O.EXP.KBUF.CW.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-260130T1500Z/ /O.NEW.KBUF.CW.Y.0005.260130T1500Z-260130T1800Z/ Chautauqua-Cattaraugus-Allegany- Including the cities of Jamestown, Olean, and Wellsville 1000 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED... * WHAT...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero. * WHERE...The western Southern Tier. * WHEN.... * IMPACTS...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder. && $$ NYZ001>006-010>014-085-301600- /O.EXP.KBUF.CW.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-260130T1500Z/ Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Northern Erie- Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston-Ontario-Southern Erie- Including the cities of Niagara Falls, Medina, Rochester, Newark, Fair Haven, Oswego, Buffalo, Batavia, Warsaw, Geneseo, Canandaigua, Orchard Park, and Springville 1000 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED... $$ NYZ007-008-301800- /O.CON.KBUF.EC.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260130T1800Z/ Jefferson-Lewis- Including the cities of Watertown and Lowville 1000 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero. * WHERE...Jefferson and Lewis Counties. * WHEN...Until 1 PM EST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 15 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 25 below zero or colder. && $$ AR
036 WWUS71 KBUF 301511 NPWBUF URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1011 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 NYZ007-008-301800- /O.CON.KBUF.EC.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260130T1800Z/ Jefferson-Lewis- Including the cities of Watertown and Lowville 1011 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero. * WHERE...Jefferson and Lewis Counties. * WHEN...Until 1 PM EST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 15 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 25 below zero or colder. && $$ NYZ019>021-301800- /O.CON.KBUF.CW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260130T1800Z/ Chautauqua-Cattaraugus-Allegany- Including the cities of Jamestown, Olean, and Wellsville 1011 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero. * WHERE...The western Southern Tier. * WHEN...Until 1 PM EST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder. && $$ AR
476 WWUS71 KBUF 301733 NPWBUF URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1233 PM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 NYZ008-310545- /O.EXP.KBUF.EC.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260130T1800Z/ /O.EXB.KBUF.CW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260131T1600Z/ Lewis- Including the cities of Lowville 1233 PM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EST SATURDAY... ...EXTREME COLD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero. * WHERE...Lewis County. * WHEN...Until 11 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder. && $$ NYZ007-301845- /O.EXP.KBUF.EC.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260130T1800Z/ Jefferson- Including the cities of Watertown 1233 PM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...EXTREME COLD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... Apparent temperatures have climbed to levels where dangerously cold wind chills are no longer expected, therefore the Extreme Cold Warning will be allowed to expire. $$ NYZ019>021-310545- /O.EXT.KBUF.CW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-260131T1600Z/ Chautauqua-Cattaraugus-Allegany- Including the cities of Jamestown, Olean, and Wellsville 1233 PM EST Fri Jan 30 2026 ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero. * WHERE...The western Southern Tier. * WHEN...Until 11 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder. Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. && $$ AR
The office that day
Everything else NWS Buffalo, NY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 1:03 AM EST | Winter Weather Advisory | BUF | Cayuga, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans and 2 more | 57 hr |
| Jan 29, 1:08 AM EST | Cold Weather Advisory | BUF | Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee and 10 more | 33 hr |
Nearby
Extreme Cold Warnings in New York, 2026Every extreme cold warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.