Could NY get hit by a blizzard this winter? Weather clues say maybe

AI-assisted summary

Most forecasts predict a milder and drier winter for New York, with snow mainly around the holidays and late winter.

Despite a mild outlook, a combination of atmospheric factors could still produce pockets of heavy snow or even a blizzard.

A weak La Niña and an easterly QBO could allow frigid Arctic air to meet moisture from the Great Lakes, creating intense lake-effect snow.

Lake-effect snow occurs when cold, dry air moves over warmer lake waters, producing narrow, heavy bands of snow.

While most forecasts point to a milder winter across the U.S. , if the right weather patterns align, pockets of heavy snow — or even a blizzard — could still make a comeback to New York.

Fittingly, the Old Farmer’s Almanac named its 2025–26 winter forecast " Mostly Mild — with