Meteorologist Henry Margusity forecasts a turbulent start to January 2026, beginning with a clipper system today that brings light snow to the Northeast. A more significant system is close behind, targeting the Great Lakes and Northeast from Tuesday night into Wednesday with heavier snow—particularly for Upstate New York and Northern Michigan—and a potential icy mix for New England. While a brief milder pattern may offer respite for some later this week, Margusity warns it will be short-lived as another storm targets the Midwest with roughly 4 inches of snow by Friday or Saturday.
Looking further ahead, the forecast predicts winter will come "back with a vengeance" due to a stratospheric warming event that is expected to displace arctic air southward. This pattern shift is energizing the southern branch of the jet stream, creating signals for potential coastal storms around mid-January, specifically near the 19th. With the storm track active and cold air locking in, Margusity suggests a snowy pattern could persist through the end of the month and possibly linger well into March.
