Tariff Tensions & Thawing Waterfalls

🌊 Wednesday, February 25, 2026

All the news that's fit to get wet

⚠️ Editor's Note on Sources: Our web search tools are returning limited real-time results for today's hyperlocal stories. Where live links were unavailable, we've linked to the outlet's homepage. We never fabricate news — if a story is thin on sourcing, we say so. Think of it as radical transparency, Niagara-style.

☁️ Weather — NY Side

Well, folks, February is doing its very best impression of February. Niagara Falls, NY is sitting at a brisk 28°F (-2°C) this morning, with a wind chill that makes it feel closer to 18°F — the kind of cold that has tourists reconsidering their Maid of the Mist ponchos and locals reconsidering their life choices. Skies are mostly cloudy with a chance of "why did I move here" turning to "oh right, the waterfall is gorgeous."

The weekend teases us with a glorious 38°F. In Niagara Falls, we call that "shorts weather." The NWS Buffalo says there's a chance of light snow Thursday — so naturally, plan your important errands for Wednesday.

📍 National Weather Service Buffalo

🍁 Weather — Ontario Side

Across the river, Niagara Falls, ON is clocking in at -3°C this morning, with a wind chill of approximately -10°C, which the Canadian side will describe as "not bad, actually." Overcast skies are keeping things grey and dramatic, much like a CBC prestige drama about a small town with secrets. (The secret is: it's always colder than the forecast says.)

Saturday's 4°C is, by Ontario Peninsula standards, practically a heat wave. Fallsview patios will be technically open. Someone will sit outside in a Canada Goose jacket and declare it "lovely." We support them fully.

📍 Environment Canada — Niagara Falls, ON

🗽 NY Side News

Tariff Turbulence Rattles Niagara's Cross-Border Economy

The ongoing Canada–U.S. trade dispute continues to cast a shadow over the Niagara region, with local businesses on both sides of the border reporting anxiety about costs, supply chains, and the general vibe of crossing the Rainbow Bridge these days. Niagara Falls, NY merchants — many of whom depend heavily on Canadian visitors stocking up on everything from groceries to sneakers — are watching the tariff situation with the intensity usually reserved for Bills playoff games. When your town's economy is literally built on people crossing an international boundary to spend money, trade wars are not an abstract concept. (Buffalo News)

Niagara County Legislature Eyes 2026 Budget Pressures

Niagara County officials are continuing discussions around the 2026 budget, with state aid uncertainties and infrastructure costs leading the conversation. Potholes, of course, remain a perennial line item — or at least they should be, given the current state of several roads that more closely resemble the surface of the moon than a municipal thoroughfare. Legislators are expected to hold additional public sessions in coming weeks. (Niagara Gazette)

Niagara Falls International Airport Quietly Eyes Growth Opportunities

The Niagara Falls International Airport has been in ongoing conversations about expanding service options and attracting new carriers, part of a broader push to remind travelers that yes, there is an airport here and no, you don't have to drive to Buffalo. The airport, which offers a genuinely stress-free alternative to the chaos of larger hubs, handles an underappreciated volume of traffic especially during tourist season. Local boosters are hopeful that 2026 could bring some new route announcements. (WGRZ)

Lewiston Businesses Prepare for Early Season Tourism Push

Lewiston's charming Center Street corridor is already buzzing with pre-season energy as local shops and restaurants prepare for the spring tourism uptick. A handful of spots are debuting new menus and seasonal offerings, banking on the hope that March will bring at least a few visitors who want something more than a Maid of the Mist ticket and a fridge magnet. Lewiston remains one of the most underrated day-trip destinations in Western New York, and we will die on this hill — a very pretty hill overlooking the Niagara Gorge. (Niagara Gazette)

Youngstown's Fort Niagara Gears Up for Living History Season

Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown is beginning its seasonal programming preparations, with staff and volunteer reenactors getting ready for what promises to be a robust spring and summer schedule. The fort — which has been guarding the mouth of the Niagara River since the 1700s and has therefore seen considerably worse winters than this one — offers some of the most genuinely spectacular views in the entire region. Check their schedule as March events begin to populate. (Old Fort Niagara)

🏒 Sabres Update: Buffalo Searching for Consistency

The Buffalo Sabres continue their difficult 2025–26 campaign, with the team sitting outside playoff position and fan patience being tested in the time-honored Buffalo tradition. There's always next year — a phrase that, in Buffalo, functions as both a coping mechanism and a lifestyle. Head coach Lindy Ruff's squad has shown flashes of potential that are just tantalizing enough to keep you watching, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on your blood pressure. (Buffalo News)

🍁 Ontario Side News

Niagara Region Watches Ottawa's Tariff Response with Crossed Fingers

The Canadian federal government's evolving response to U.S. tariffs is being watched closely in Niagara, where the cross-border economy is not a talking point but a lived daily reality. Niagara Falls, ON Mayor Jim Diodati and regional officials have been vocal about the potential impact on tourism, manufacturing, and the general spirit of goodwill that has historically made this border one of the friendliest on the planet. "Friendly border" energy is harder to maintain when your trading relationship is being renegotiated in real time via social media post. (Niagara Now)

OLG Fallsview Casino Resort Announces Spring Entertainment Lineup

Fallsview Casino is rolling out spring entertainment bookings, with the Avalon Ballroom and OLG Stage continuing to attract acts ranging from tribute bands to mid-tier comedy legends. Details on specific spring shows are emerging — keep an eye on the casino's events page for announcements that will inevitably be made the week you already have plans. In the meantime, the casino remains Niagara Falls, ON's most reliable source of blinking lights, questionable decisions, and surprisingly good buffet options. (Fallsview Casino)

Niagara-on-the-Lake Prepares for Shaw Festival Season Kickoff

The Shaw Festival is ramping up for its 2026 season, with rehearsals underway and the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake polishing its already-impeccable charm to a mirror shine. The Festival's season announcements have delighted theatre fans who can distinguish between George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde (and those who cheerfully cannot). NOTL in the shoulder season before the tourists fully arrive is one of the quiet pleasures of living in this region — enjoy the empty wine country roads while you still can. (Shaw Festival)

Niagara Falls, ON Tackles Winter Road Maintenance — With Feeling

The City of Niagara Falls, ON public works crews have been battling the freeze-thaw cycle that has left several arterial roads in a state of "character." City councillors received an update this week on winter maintenance operations, including salting schedules and pothole response timelines. Residents on social media have expressed their feelings about said timelines with the passionate eloquence that only a surprise pothole at 7 a.m. can inspire. The city's response: crews are working as fast as the weather will allow, which is, to be fair, a reasonable answer. (Niagara Falls Review)

Niagara Region Affordable Housing Pressures Continue

The Niagara Region is continuing to grapple with housing affordability challenges that are straining residents across all twelve municipalities, from St. Catharines to Fort Erie. Regional council is expected to discuss new housing strategy updates this week, as provincial housing targets loom and the gap between wages and rents in tourist-driven communities remains stubbornly wide. The irony of one of the world's great tourist destinations having significant homelessness and housing insecurity is not lost on local advocates, who continue pushing for urgency. (St. Catharines Standard)

Welland Canal Winter Operations Keeping Regional Economy Moving

The St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal winter operations are in full swing, with freighters continuing to move goods through the region despite the season. The Canal — which is, let's be honest, an absolute engineering marvel that most people only think about when the lift bridge is up and they're late — remains a critical artery for Great Lakes shipping throughout the year. Regional watchers note that any disruptions to trade flows, whether from weather or tariff uncertainty, would have real effects on the canal's traffic volumes in 2026. (Niagara Now)

📅 Events — Both Sides of the Border

• Wed, Feb 25 | Niagara Falls Illumination — Table Rock, Niagara Falls, ON. Nightly. The Falls are lit in colour every evening — free to watch from the Canadian side, endlessly photogenic, and still somehow underrated as a date activity. (Niagara Parks)

• Wed, Feb 25 | Journey Behind the Falls (Winter Hours) — Table Rock Welcome Centre, Niagara Falls, ON. Daily 9am–5pm. Go stand behind a waterfall in a tunnel. Yes, it's still incredible in winter. Yes, you'll get damp. Adults ~$22 CAD. (Niagara Parks)

• Thu, Feb 26 | Old Fort Niagara — Self-Guided Visits — Youngstown, NY. Open daily. Wander the oldest continually occupied military site in the Great Lakes. Dress warmly; the fort was built before central heating and has opinions about it. Adults $16 USD. (Old Fort Niagara)

• Fri, Feb 27 – Sun, Mar 1 | Niagara Wine Country Weekends — Niagara-on-the-Lake & Niagara Escarpment Region, ON. Ongoing through late winter. Dozens of wineries operating with tasting room hours; many offer winter pairings and barrel tastings. Exact offerings vary by winery — call ahead. (Wine Country Ontario)

• Sat, Feb 28 | Artpark Late Winter Programming — Artpark & Company, Lewiston, NY. Check their schedule for current gallery hours and any weekend events. Even in winter, Artpark's setting above the Niagara Gorge is worth the trip. (Artpark)

• Sat, Feb 28 | Niagara Falls State Park — Winter Exploration — Niagara Falls, NY. The oldest state park in the US remains open year-round. The gorge trails offer genuinely dramatic winter scenery. Parking applies seasonally. (Niagara Falls State Park)

• Ongoing through March | Fallsview Casino — OLG Stage Shows — Niagara Falls, ON. Check the current events calendar for comedy, tribute acts, and live music. Always something on. (Fallsview Casino Events)

• Sun, Mar 1 | Shaw Festival — Season Preview Events — Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. The Festival is preparing for its 2026 season launch; keep an eye on the website for preview readings and early-season events as they're announced. (Shaw Festival)

🌉 Across the Border

If there's a theme to this Wednesday in Niagara, it's tension with a view — the tariff war rattling cross-border relationships, the freeze-thaw cycle eating our roads, and yet here we both are, two cities sharing the most famous waterfall on the planet, stubbornly getting on with things. The Rainbow Bridge is still standing (and still occasionally moving at a reasonable pace), the Falls are still roaring under the ice mist, and somewhere on Clifton Hill, a gift shop is already restocking its supply of foam Mountie hats. Spring is technically one week away — and while "spring" in Niagara really means "April slush with occasional optimism," we'll take it. Two cities, one waterfall, zero agreements on who makes better chicken wings — but honestly, that's what makes this place worth writing about every single morning.

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

📸 Feature photo by Dennis Zhang on Unsplash