The weather is expected to be more severe on both coasts when the ball drops on Wednesday evening, in 2026.
On the West Coast, more rain will fall on Wednesday in flooded Southern California, where residents are still recovering from last week’s flooding.
A worker removes debris from a flooded section of Interstate 134, as heavy rain falls due to an atmospheric river in Burbank, California, December 24, 2025.
Jill Connelly/Reuters
There is a heavy rainfall risk level of 2 out of 4 in the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. One to two inches of rain is generally expected throughout the Los Angeles area, but higher elevations could see 2 to 4 inches of rain.
More than 17 million people in Southern California are under a flood watch, with debris flows and mudslides possible.
New Year’s Eve – Thursday, 12 am. Map
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By Wednesday afternoon, rain will fall from Los Angeles to the Bay Area. It will become more widespread across the state in the afternoon, with showers expected in Las Vegas and Arizona into the evening.
Large portions of the Southwest, from California to Nevada to Arizona to Utah, will see rain when the clock strikes midnight, and heavy rain will continue in Los Angeles into the morning.
Rain and Snow Probability – Map Thursday at 4 a.m. PT
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On Thursday, rain will spread north into Washington and Idaho.
Meanwhile, a fast-moving shear system is bringing more snow to the upper Midwest and Northeast on New Year’s Eve.
The heaviest snow will be lake effect snow off the Great Lakes.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a winter weather advisory was in place for 3 to 5 inches of snow Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning. Strong winds may reduce visibility at times.
New Year’s Day – Thursday, 4pm CT
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Syracuse, N.Y. — which saw a massive two-foot snowfall on Tuesday, the city’s snowiest day in nearly 80 years — could get an additional 4 to 8 inches on Wednesday.
Around Orchard Park, New York, home of the Buffalo Bills, 1 to 2 feet is possible Wednesday and Thursday.
When the ball drops in Times Square, New York City We could see some flurries, but little snow accumulation is expected. The wind chill – the temperature you feel – will be in the 20s when the ball drops.
The 7-foot-tall “2026” figures are displayed at a lighting ceremony in Times Square, on December 18, 2025, in New York.
Adam Gray/AP
Boston could get about 1 to 3 inches of snow from the time the ball drops until 7 a.m. Thursday.
Lake effect snow will continue throughout the week, with some parts of upstate New York seeing 1 to 3 feet of snow by Saturday morning.
