Honestly, if you're looking at the current weather in Niagara Falls Canada right now, you’re probably seeing a lot of grey. It is Friday, January 16, 2026, and the sky is a solid, stubborn sheet of clouds. It’s cold. Not "Polar Vortex" cold, but the kind of damp, biting chill that finds the gap between your scarf and your chin.
The temperature is sitting right at 26°F (-3°C), but that’s a bit of a lie. With a 10 mph wind coming off the south, it actually feels like 16°F (-9°C). If you’re standing near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, that mist is going to make it feel even sharper. Humidity is high at 69%, so the air feels heavy, almost like it’s deciding whether or not to start dumping snow on us again.
The Friday Forecast Breakdown
We’ve got a high of 30°F (-1°C) expected today, but don't get too excited. Environment Canada is tracking a 40% chance of snow throughout the afternoon. We already had a bit of a mess yesterday with that storm that hammered the GTA, and today is basically the leftovers. By tonight, the mercury is going to tank down to 10°F (-12°C).
The wind is the real player here. It’s blowing from the south at about 11 mph, which is just enough to push that freezing mist right into your face if you're walking along Queen Victoria Park.
- Current Temp: 26°F
- RealFeel: 16°F
- Wind: 10-11 mph (South)
- Precipitation: 40% chance of snow today; 26% tonight.
Why the "Frozen Falls" is Kinda a Myth
You've seen the photos. Those viral shots of Niagara Falls looking like a solid block of ice? Yeah, that doesn't really happen. The water is moving way too fast—about 85 million litres per minute in the winter—to actually freeze solid. What you’re seeing right now is "frazil ice" and massive ice crusts.
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Because the temperatures have been dipping, the mist is freezing on contact. Everything near the river—the railings, the trees, the lamp posts—is coated in about five inches of clear, glass-like ice. It looks like a Narnia movie set, but it's basically a giant slip-and-slide. The American Falls usually look "more frozen" because they carry only about 7% of the river's flow, allowing ice to bridge over the rocks more easily.
What’s Actually Open Today?
If you're brave enough to head out in the current weather in Niagara Falls Canada, you've got to be strategic. The boat tours (Maid of the Mist/Hornblower) are obviously hibernating until spring. However, Journey Behind the Falls is open, and honestly, winter is the best time to do it. You stand on the lower observation deck and see the massive ice "mountains" that form at the base of the Horseshoe.
The Winter Festival of Lights is still going strong, so if you wait until the sun goes down (which is early, around 5:00 PM), the illumination on the falls and the displays along the parkway are pretty spectacular against the snow.
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Survival Tips for Today
- Waterproof Everything: That mist is basically freezing rain. If you wear a wool coat, you’ll be a damp, shivering mess in twenty minutes. Wear a hardshell or a waterproof puffer.
- Footwear: Forget fashion. The sidewalks along the gorge are famously treacherous right now. You need boots with serious lugs.
- The Camera Trick: If you're taking photos, your battery is going to die 50% faster in this 16°F wind chill. Keep a spare in your inside pocket—literally against your skin—to keep it warm.
- Warm Up Spots: If you get too cold, duck into the Niagara Parks Power Station. It’s indoors, it’s historic, and the tunnel experience is a solid way to see the falls without getting blasted by the wind for an hour.
The snow is expected to pick up later this evening, with about 5 cm possible if the bands hold steady. If you're driving, the QEW can get nasty fast with lake-effect squalls, so keep an eye on the sky.
To make the most of your visit today, head to the Table Rock Centre first to get your bearings indoors before committing to the walk along the wall. Check the WEGO bus schedule if you don't want to walk in the slush; they run on a reduced winter schedule but are a lifesaver when the wind picks up. Pack an extra pair of dry socks in the car—you’ll thank me later.