Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Jefferson, New York

2026-01-23 to 2026-01-24 · Jefferson, New York

Event narrative

Numerous observations and reports from around Jefferson County of wind chill values between -30 and -47 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wider weather episode

A series of passing frontal boundaries, surface lows and troughs during the week of January 18th resulted in yet another snowy period for Western and North Central New York. These passing cold and warm fronts also provided a variability to temperatures during this period as well. Toward the end of the week, behind a passing Arctic front, temperatures dropped to some of the coldest values of the season with daytime highs only in the single digits to low teens for most areas. Overnight windchill values dropped to -30 degrees Fahrenheit or lower at times for Jefferson and Lewis counties on the night of January 23rd.

Notable windchill values for the end of the week include: -49 degrees Fahrenheit at Copenhagen, -47 degrees Fahrenheit at the Watertown Airport, -46 degrees Fahrenheit at Belleville, and -39 degrees Fahrenheit at Harrisburg.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1313151. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.