🌊 Saturday, February 28, 2026
All the news that's fit to get wet
☁️ Weather — NY Side
Good morning, Cataract City. Pull on that extra layer before you open the door — February is going out with a February attitude.
Today's high on the NY side is forecast at 41°F, but brace yourself: Sunday drops to 25°F, and the week ahead is a full cold-snap sandwich. Following a lovely Friday, February will be ending with a turn to sharply colder weather — but March will bring a major pattern change in the opposite direction by later next week. In other words: suffer now, survive later.
Current conditions as of this morning have Niagara Falls, NY sitting at 21°F, with today's forecast range of 24° low to 42°F high. The wind is doing its usual thing — which is to say, the wind is doing everything it can to ruin your hat.
| Day | Conditions | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Feb 28 | Partly cloudy, clearing | 41°F | 24°F |
| Sun Mar 1 | Cold, mostly cloudy | 25°F | 16°F |
| Mon Mar 2 | Partly sunny | 28°F | 14°F |
| Tue Mar 3 | Chance of snow/rain | 34°F | 24°F |
| Wed Mar 4 | Cloudy, mild-ish | 41°F | 35°F |
🌊 National Weather Service Buffalo
🍁 Weather — Ontario Side
Bonjour from the Canadian side, where the weather is politely refusing to commit to spring.
Last night's conditions at the St. Catharines / Niagara District Airport showed a temperature of 3.8°C, clear skies, humidity at 75%, and southerly winds at 20 km/h — pressure falling. Today itself is cooler. For Saturday February 28, the forecast shows a high of 0°C with clearing skies, but tonight drops to −9°C with snow beginning early in the evening, around 2 cm expected. Grab the parka you thought you'd put away, then apologize to it.
The week ahead sees Sunday at −2°C with a 40% chance of flurries, Monday at −4°C with a mix of sun and cloud, and Tuesday at 2°C with a 60% chance of snow or rain — before things warm back to 5°C by Wednesday and Thursday.
| Day | Conditions | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Feb 28 | Clearing | 0°C | −9°C |
| Sun Mar 1 | Mix sun/cloud, flurries 40% | −2°C | −11°C |
| Mon Mar 2 | Mix sun/cloud | −4°C | −9°C |
| Tue Mar 3 | Snow or rain 60% | 2°C | 0°C |
| Wed Mar 4 | Cloudy | 5°C | 0°C |
🗽 NY Side News
Niagara University Mourns Student Killed in Main Street Crash
A 22-year-old Niagara University student was killed in the early hours of Tuesday morning in a single-vehicle crash in Niagara Falls. The crash happened around 1 a.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue, where police say a 2015 BMW spun out of control, struck a light pole and then hit chain-link fencing.
The student, identified by school officials as Bradly Burden, was from Anchorage, Alaska, majoring in management at the Holzschuh College of Business Administration and was also a member of the men's club hockey team. The investigation is believed to be centered on excessive speed and road conditions on Main Street, which were described as "icy and snow-covered" at the time of the crash.
The Niagara University community is mourning deeply. "I can't even think about stepping on the ice without him," said head coach Sean Casilio. "But the way I know these guys that are here, they'll never step on the ice without him." Our hearts are with Bradly's family, teammates, and the entire NU community.
(WGRZ) (Niagara Gazette) (WKBW)
Niagara Falls Sees 35% Crime Drop — The GIVE Program Delivers
Niagara Falls experienced a 35% drop in crime in 2025, a headline that's as welcome as a pothole-free stretch of Pine Avenue. Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $9.1 million for Western New York law enforcement agencies, with shooting incidents with injury in participating GIVE communities declining 24%, and the number of individuals shot declining by 35% when comparing January–June 2025 to the same period last year.
Data show that the 28 police departments participating in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative reported 491 shooting incidents with injury in 2025 — the fewest since the state began tracking that metric in 2006. That's not just good news; that's historic news.
Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino credited the results to Governor Hochul's investments as well as community organizations like Community Missions of Niagara Frontier and the hard work of the Niagara Falls Police Department, while noting there is "still much work to do."
Lewiston's "Sanborn Square" Affordable Housing Project Nets $6.2M in State Funding
A housing project in the Town of Lewiston is one of 27 developments that received more than $240 million in state investments this week, as Governor Kathy Hochul's office announced funding toward creating or preserving 1,800 homes across the state.
The Lewiston development, called Sanborn Square, will receive $6.2 million and is described as 50 units of garden-style affordable housing. Fifty units of real, accessible housing in a region where affordability remains a very real challenge — that's the kind of announcement worth celebrating over a good cup of coffee.
107th Attack Wing Recruiters Earn State's Top Air Guard Honour
The recruiters of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Attack Wing, based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, have earned the Air Guard's top recruiting award in the state. The 107th Attack Wing's recruiters earned a top Air Guard recruiting award for exceeding their recruiting goal — an achievement celebrated with a career fair for high school students at the station.
According to the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the 10 recruiters earned the Patriot Team award for exceeding their goals — which is a pretty great way to close out February. Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station has always punched above its weight. Seems the recruiting team read the same memo.
Governor Proposes Additional $6.2M in State Aid to Niagara Falls City
Niagara Falls City could be in line for an unexpected increase in its annual state aid allocation, as Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced she will seek an additional $150 million in financial assistance for municipalities outside of New York City in her executive budget.
Hochul said the request, subject to the legislature's approval, would assist cities in "relieving immediate fiscal stress." For a city that has been navigating budget pressures for years, a fresh infusion of state cash would be more than welcome. Whether Albany follows through is, of course, a whole other waterfall.
🏒 Sabres Report — Last Night's Win
The Sabres are on a tear right now, and Niagara is here for every second of it.
Alex Lyon made 27 saves to beat his former Florida teammates for the second time this month, helping the Buffalo Sabres top the Panthers 3-2 on Friday night for their eighth victory in 11 games. Beck Malenstyn put Buffalo ahead 2-1 at 11:38, scoring with a slap shot through traffic from the point, and Peyton Krebs scored an empty-netter at 18:43 before Sam Bennett was credited with a late consolation goal to cut it to 3-2.
Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (34-19-6), who are 7-0-1 in their past eight road games. Tonight, Buffalo faces Tampa Bay — and you can bet the whole region will be watching. The Sabres' push for their first playoff spot in over a decade has this town buzzing louder than a Rainbow Bridge crossing on a Friday afternoon.
(NHL.com)
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South Niagara Hospital Hits Historic Milestone — Final Beam Raised
Elected officials and community partners joined Niagara Health for a beam signing celebration at the South Niagara Hospital on Wednesday. One of the final structural beams has been signed and raised at the $3.6-billion project, marking a major construction milestone that will transform healthcare delivery across Niagara.
The 12-storey hospital will include 475 single-patient bedrooms and will offer a full spectrum of services, including emergency, critical care, diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical services. With eight operating rooms, two MRI machines, and an Emergency Department three times the size of the current Niagara Falls site, the new hospital will play a critical role in improving access and reducing wait times.
The hospital is scheduled to open in summer 2028 and will add 156 beds to the region's existing capacity, part of a broader provincial plan to invest nearly $60 billion in more than 50 hospital projects over the next decade. Not a bad week for Niagara Falls, Ontario — a beam was raised and, one hopes, so was everyone's spirits. Completion: summer 2028. Until then: patience, Niagara.
(Niagara Health) (Niagara Daily News)
Ford Tells Niagara's Mayors: Amalgamation Is Your Call
The biggest political saga on the Canadian side of the falls this week has nothing to do with the actual Falls — it's about whether Niagara's 12 municipalities should become one city, four cities, or stay exactly as chaotic as they are.
Following letters from Niagara's regional chair suggesting potential amalgamation, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he "is not going to make that decision," leaving the debate to the chair and 12 mayors. "It has to be from Niagara by Niagara," said Ford at a news conference in Niagara Falls on Wednesday.
Last week, Niagara Region's chair Bob Gale wrote a letter to Ontario Municipal Affairs Minister Rob Flack, saying he is "deeply contemplating" the possibility of amalgamating the 12 municipalities into a one- or four-city model, sparking mixed reactions from mayors in the area. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said he is in favour of amalgamating down to four cities, saying the two-tier government has led to bloated property tax increases and "too many politicians," pointing to a $110-million infrastructure deficit.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, however, said he is "strongly" opposed to "any proposal that would see the Town absorbed through amalgamation," citing its "distinct identity, proud history, and strong local governance." In other words: some mayors want one big tent, and some mayors want their very own tent with a heritage plaque on it. Stay tuned.
(CBC Hamilton/Niagara) (Global News) (Niagara Daily News)
Royal George Theatre Demolition: Court Rules, Shovels Hover
In Niagara-on-the-Lake, the saga of the century-old Royal George Theatre continues to rival any drama the Shaw Festival has ever staged — complete with lawyers, cranes, and very strong opinions about heritage.
The demolition and redevelopment of Shaw Festival's century-old Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake has been in the works for quite some time, but a legal challenge is now questioning the project's approval process. On Feb. 10, the court ordered that demolition of the theatre and its box office could not proceed pending a Feb. 26 judicial review hearing, while demolition of the Victoria Street homes had already begun.
The pause followed a court motion filed by Nicholas Colaneri, president of Centurion Building Corporation, who is seeking a judicial review of the Town of NOTL's decisions approving demolition, alleging non-compliance with the Ontario Heritage Act, the Planning Act, and related legislation. The judicial review hearing took place this past Thursday, Feb. 26. Theatre and box office demolition is expected in early April according to Shaw's announcement — assuming the courts agree. The drama, fittingly, continues.
(Niagara Now) (BTPM / WBFO) (NOTL Local)
Canada Announces 39 New Affordable Homes in Niagara Falls, ON
Housing made the news on both sides of the river this week. In Niagara Falls, ON, the Government of Canada announced new affordable housing as part of its Build Canada Homes initiative, noting that far too many Canadians are struggling to find homes they can afford and that solving Canada's housing crisis requires immediate action.
Build Canada Homes will help increase the pace of affordable homebuilding and fight homelessness by building transitional and supportive housing, working with provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous communities, while also building deeply affordable housing for low-income households. Thirty-nine homes is a start, and around here, starts matter.
Niagara Falls, ON Named One of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers for 2026
A bit of local pride to close out the week: the City of Niagara Falls has announced it has been selected as one of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers for 2026. The recognition highlights the city as a standout workplace in the region — which, we should note, is impressive given that the city also manages the world's most dramatic tourist attraction and approximately seventeen political debates per week.
📅 Events — Both Sides of the Border
Sat, Feb 28 | Sarah Harmer — Spotlight Concert Series — The Exchange - Cultural Hub & Market, Niagara Falls, ON. 7:00 PM. JUNO Award Winner Sarah Harmer headlines this intimate Cicada Music & Arts Festival Spotlight Concert. Extremely limited tickets. (The Exchange)
Sat, Feb 28 | Niagara History Center "Soup & Story" — Niagara History Center, Youngstown, NY. 12 Noon – 2:00 PM. The Niagara History Center is renewing its wintertime cabin fever "Soup & Story" event, with a meal and storytelling. Warm soup, warm stories, cold outside. Perfect Saturday. (Niagara Gazette)
Sat, Feb 28 | Falls Illumination — Niagara Falls, ON & NY. Niagara Falls illumination runs daily from 5:30 PM to 1:00 AM. Fireworks won't resume until the summer. Free to view from both sides of the river. (Niagara Parks)
Sun, Mar 1 | Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 7:00 PM. Americana royalty on the falls. Tickets available via SeatGeek. (Fallsview Casino)
Thu, Mar 5 | Boy George & Culture Club — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 8:00 PM. Boy George & Culture Club take the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM. Karma Chameleon by the Horseshoe Falls. Truly, we live in extraordinary times. (Fallsview Casino Resort)
Sat, Mar 7 | Music of the Night: The Concert Tour — Niagara Falls Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, ON. A Concert Celebration of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Greatest Hits, presented by Sound the Alarm. (Falls Convention Centre)
Wed, Mar 11 | Chubby Checker — Avalon Ballroom Theatre at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, ON. 3:00 PM. The Twist, the Falls, the works. (Fallsview Casino)
Thu, Mar 25 | The Fell — Evening Star Concert Hall, Niagara Falls, NY. The Fell, a modern rock supergroup, is coming to Niagara Falls for an intimate performance at the Evening Star Concert Hall. (Niagara Gazette)
Ongoing | Winter 2026 Film Series: Gene Hackman – A Tribute — The Exchange, Niagara Falls, ON. Running January 24 – March 14, 2026. (The Exchange)
Ongoing | "Woman" Visual Art Exhibition — The Exchange, Niagara Falls, ON. Running January 31 – July 19, 2026. (The Exchange)
Ongoing | Snow Tubing Adventures — Running January 29 – March 7, 2026. Get out there before it melts. (Niagara Falls Tourism)
🌉 Across the Border
What a week it's been for both sides of this shared waterfall. On the Ontario side, a Premier told 12 mayors to figure out their own political future while he stood next to a half-built hospital and signed a steel beam with a Sharpie. On the New York side, the state's anti-violence program posted historic results, a university community mourned a 22-year-old who should have had decades more, and the Sabres kept rolling through Florida like they own the Atlantic Division.
The South Niagara Hospital beam-raising and the Sabres' road winning streak make for a surprisingly tidy metaphor for this region right now: things are being built, slowly but surely, from both concrete and character. The hospital is scheduled to open in summer 2028, adding 156 beds to the region, and if the Sabres keep this up, by 2028 maybe they'll have a banner to hang too. A local can dream.
And then tonight — literally tonight — JUNO Award winner Sarah Harmer plays an intimate show at The Exchange, mere blocks from a waterfall that's been drawing people to this stretch of the Niagara River for centuries. Whether you're crossing from Lewiston to Queenston, or just watching the falls light up at 5:30, this is one of those weekends that reminds you: two countries, one river, one complicated and beautiful neighbourhood. We're glad you're here for it.
🌊 The Falls — "We cover both sides so you don't have to cross in this weather."
📸 Feature photo by Jose Losada on Unsplash