Tariff Troubles & Tunnel Visions

🌊 Monday, February 23, 2026

All the news that's fit to get wet

☁️ Weather — NY Side

Well, Niagara Falls, NY, February is doing exactly what February does: being absolutely insufferable. We're looking at a grey, blustery Monday with temperatures hovering around 28°F (-2°C) and a wind chill that makes it feel like the Falls itself is blowing cold air directly into your face (it basically is). Expect flurries throughout the morning commute, because of course — it's western New York and the sky never misses an opportunity.

Forecast note: If you planned to do anything outside this week, Thursday would like a word with you.

🔗 National Weather Service Buffalo

🍁 Weather — Ontario Side

Across the river, Niagara Falls, ON is experiencing what Environment Canada calls "a wintry mix of character-building conditions." Translation: -3°C right now, feels like -10°C with the wind, and yes, the sidewalks on Clifton Hill are exactly as treacherous as you'd imagine. The good news: the mist from the Falls is almost indistinguishable from the regular precipitation at this point, so really, who can tell the difference?

Thursday's freezing rain advisory is brought to you by the Ontario Ministry of "We Tried to Warn You." Please salt your steps.

🔗 Environment Canada — Niagara Falls, ON

🗽 NY Side News

Rainbow Bridge Traffic Backups Worsen as New Trade Tensions Add Paperwork to Crossings

The Rainbow Bridge has never been anyone's idea of a relaxing commute, but recent weeks have seen delays stretching well beyond the usual tourist-season frustration, with commercial crossing paperwork piling up in the wake of ongoing U.S.-Canada trade friction. Truckers and locals alike are reporting longer waits at the Peace Bridge and Rainbow Bridge crossings as customs officers deal with updated documentation requirements tied to evolving tariff measures. At this rate, the most scenic part of your commute might be the hour you spend staring at the Falls while waiting in line — silver linings, people. (WGRZ)

Niagara Falls City Council Eyes Budget Fixes as State Aid Picture Remains Murky

Niagara Falls city officials are continuing budget deliberations this week, with council members wrestling over departmental allocations ahead of the fiscal year deadline. The familiar tension between infrastructure needs (those potholes aren't filling themselves, folks) and available revenue is front and center once again. Sources suggest the conversation about the condition of city roads has moved from "concerning" to "we are legally obligated to address this." Progress! (Niagara Gazette)

Niagara County Legislature Monitors Federal Funding Streams Amid Washington Uncertainty

Niagara County legislators are keeping a close eye on federal grant programs that support everything from water infrastructure to community development, as uncertainty from Washington creates planning headaches at the local level. County officials have stressed that several capital projects hinge on timely federal disbursements, and delays could push timelines back significantly. Essentially, the county is watching its inbox very, very carefully — which is something we can all relate to on a Monday morning. (Niagara Gazette)

Lewiston Steps Up for Late-Winter Community Events

The Village of Lewiston is quietly being the most charming place in Niagara County again, with community programming at the Lewiston Council on the Arts and local businesses keeping the calendar busy through the winter doldrums. Local shops along Center Street have been running promotions to drive foot traffic during the slow season, and frankly, if you haven't treated yourself to a wander through Lewiston lately, what are you doing? It's February — you deserve a nice lunch and a browse through an art gallery. (WKBW)

Youngstown's Fort Niagara State Park: Winter Hours, Still Worth the Frozen Haul

Old Fort Niagara is maintaining its winter schedule, and the grounds remain open for those hardy souls who like their history served cold — very, very cold. The confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario in February is genuinely stunning in a "nature is majestic and also trying to kill you" sort of way. Bundle up, bring hot coffee, and appreciate that you can experience 300 years of military history without fighting through a tour bus parking lot. (NYS Parks — Fort Niagara)

🏒 Buffalo Sabres: Still Fighting for That Playoff Spot

The Sabres are grinding through the back stretch of the season, sitting in a position that makes every game feel like must-win territory — which, to be fair, is the traditional Sabres fan experience. The team has been competitive but frustratingly inconsistent, and the fanbase is doing what it does best: believing deeply while emotionally preparing for disappointment. We love you, Sabres. Please prove us wrong. (Buffalo News)

🍁 Ontario Side News

Ontario Premier Doug Ford Doubles Down on Trade Response as Tariff Uncertainty Continues

Premier Ford has remained vocal through the weekend about Ontario's position amid the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade tensions, with the provincial government signalling it is prepared to use every available tool — including leveraging electricity exports — in response to federal tariff measures. The rhetoric has been fiery, and for a region like Niagara that literally straddles the border and powers half the northeast from its Falls, the stakes feel particularly close to home. Local businesses on both sides of the river are watching nervously, hoping someone blinks before it gets worse. (CBC Hamilton/Niagara)

Niagara Falls, ON Council Tackles Clifton Hill Beautification and Tourism Infrastructure

Niagara Falls City Council is continuing discussions around tourism corridor improvements, including ongoing conversations about the look and feel of the Clifton Hill and Falls Avenue district. It's a perennial balancing act: keeping the slightly-unhinged-carnival energy that tourists love while making the city livable for, you know, actual residents. Council members have been weighing developer proposals against heritage and community concerns, as they do approximately every 18 months like clockwork. (Niagara Falls Review)

Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Season Prep Begins in Earnest

Quietly, under a light dusting of snow, the vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake are preparing for what the wine industry hopes will be a strong 2026 vintage season. Winery staff are completing pruning work, cellar operations are in full swing, and the region's hospitality sector is gearing up for the spring tourism surge. If you've ever wanted to tour a winery when it's still sleepy and the tasting room isn't shoulder-to-shoulder with bachelorette parties, late February is honestly your window. (NOTL Local / The Lake Report)

St. Catharines Transit and Regional Niagara Mobility Plans Move Forward

Niagara Region staff have been advancing plans for improved transit connectivity across the region, with St. Catharines serving as the hub for ongoing consultations. The long-running dream of better bus connections between St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Welland is inching — slowly, like a February bus in a snowstorm — forward. Advocates for the plan have noted that reliable transit would benefit workers, students, and tourists alike, which is a rare policy trifecta. (St. Catharines Standard)

Niagara Falls Illumination: Still Spectacular, Still Free, Still Running

In case you needed a reminder amid all the geopolitical drama: the Falls are still lit up every evening, and they are still jaw-dropping, and this is still one of the best free things you can do in the entire country. The Niagara Falls Illumination Board maintains the nightly light show year-round, and winter nights — when the mist freezes into ice formations and the coloured lights bounce off the snow — are genuinely among the most beautiful. Go look at them. It's free. It's right there. (Niagara Parks)

Niagara Now Highlights Growing Arts Scene Through Winter Programming

Niagara Now has been covering a burst of winter arts and culture programming across the region, from gallery shows to theatrical productions keeping communities engaged through the slow season. Community arts organizations in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, and Welland have been putting in serious work to make February feel less like a waiting room for spring. Hats off — and also hats on, because it's -10 with the windchill. (Niagara Now)

📅 Events — Both Sides of the Border

• Mon, Feb 23 | OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino — Check Current Listings — OLG Stage, Niagara Falls, ON. Verify current show schedule for this week's performances at the casino's intimate concert venue. (Fallsview Casino)

• Tue, Feb 24 | Niagara Falls Illumination — Nightly Light Show — Niagara Falls, ON. Every evening year-round. Free to watch from both the Canadian and American sides. The Falls are lit in rotating colours — best viewed from Queen Victoria Place or Table Rock. (Niagara Parks)

• Wed, Feb 25 | Journey Behind the Falls — Winter Access — Table Rock Welcome Centre, Niagara Falls, ON. Winter hours apply; check ahead. One of the few ways to get under the Falls in February and feel truly, viscerally insane for doing so. Admission applies. (Niagara Parks)

• Thu, Feb 26 | Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine Country — Winery Tours — Various Wineries, NOTL, ON. Several wineries offer winter tastings and cellar tours by appointment. Check individual winery websites. Low-season means smaller crowds and chattier hosts. (Wine Country Ontario)

• Fri, Feb 27 | Old Fort Niagara — Grounds & Exhibit Access — Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown, NY. Winter hours: check ahead. Admission applies for interior historic exhibits. The grounds walk along the Lake Ontario shore in winter is free and stunning. (Fort Niagara State Park)

• Fri–Sat, Feb 27–28 | Artpark Winter Programming — Artpark & Company, Lewiston, NY. Artpark typically hosts events and performances through the winter season. Check their current calendar for ticketed and free programming. (Artpark)

• Sat, Feb 28 | Niagara Falls Culinary Institute Events & Dining — NFCI, Niagara Falls, NY. The culinary institute's student restaurant and events calendar often features special winter dinners and programming. Worth checking if you want a great meal that also supports culinary students. (NFCI)

• Sat, Feb 28 | Fallsview Indoor Waterpark — Sheraton on the Falls, Niagara Falls, ON. Open daily. If the outdoor Falls are too frigid, the indoor water park offers a surreal "tropical at Niagara" experience for families. Day passes available. (Fallsview Indoor Waterpark)

• Sun, Mar 1 | Buffalo Sabres Hockey — Check Home Schedule — KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. Verify whether the Sabres are home this weekend as the playoff push continues. (Buffalo Sabres)

🌉 Across the Border

Here we are, staring across the mist at each other on a cold February Monday — one side debating tariffs and road budgets, the other debating tariffs and tourism corridors, both of us agreed that Thursday's freezing rain forecast is an absolute villain. The trade friction between Ottawa and Washington may be playing out in press conferences and parliament, but it's felt right here, at the Rainbow Bridge, in the faces of the people waiting in line and the businesses wondering what next month's supply costs will look like. And yet: the Falls are still falling, the lights still come on every evening, the wineries are pruning their vines in quiet optimism, and someone in Lewiston is already planning a very nice lunch. Two cities, one waterfall, and a shared, slightly exhausted, deeply stubborn determination to make it work — that's the Niagara way. Stay warm out there, and maybe call ahead before you drive anywhere on Thursday.

🌊 The Falls — "We cover both sides so you don't have to cross in this weather."

📸 Feature photo by Brucie Chen on Unsplash