🌊 Tuesday, March 3, 2026
All the news that's fit to get wet
☁️ Weather — NY Side
Good morning, Cataract City. If you were up before dawn hoping to catch that Blood Moon, we regret to inform you that the forecast had other plans. Today brings a mix of snow, sleet, and rain later this morning, followed by periods of rain this afternoon, with a high around 38°F. Winds out of the ESE at 5–10 mph are keeping things relatively calm, but don't be fooled by the gentleness — it's still 38 degrees and wet, which is Niagara's way of saying "spring is thinking about it."
The rest of the week tells a warming story — and we mean that in the most optimistic possible sense for western New York. Thursday climbs to around 41°F, Friday nudges up to 45°F, and by next weekend we're flirting with 52–55°F. If you can survive Tuesday, the payoff is coming.
| Day | Conditions | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Mar 3 | Rain/sleet mix, afternoon showers | 38°F | 28°F |
| Wed Mar 4 | Cloudy with rain | 41°F | 32°F |
| Thu Mar 5 | Cloudy with rain | 45°F | 39°F |
| Fri Mar 6 | Cloudy, rain likely | 44°F | 38°F |
| Sat Mar 7 | Morning fog, then some sun | 52°F | 36°F |
🌦️ Full forecast: National Weather Service Buffalo
🍁 Weather — Ontario Side
On the Canadian side, Tuesday brings a 70% chance of snow or rain with a high of +5°C — a dramatic improvement from Sunday's frigid -5.4°C at the St. Catharines/Niagara District Airport, where the wind chill was cutting like a hockey skate. Tonight dips back down to +1°C with a 40% chance of rain. Dress accordingly, or don't — we're Niagara, we've seen worse.
The rest of the week continues the soggy but mild-ish parade. Wednesday brings another 40% chance of rain with a high of +6°C, Thursday jumps to +10°C with a 60% chance of rain, and Friday holds at +10°C with showers continuing. The forecast through Saturday suggests the snowbanks will finally start losing the battle with March. Don't thank us — thank the jet stream.
| Day | Conditions | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Mar 3 | 70% snow or rain | +5°C | +1°C |
| Wed Mar 4 | 40% chance of rain | +6°C | +6°C |
| Thu Mar 5 | 60% chance of rain | +10°C | +6°C |
| Fri Mar 6 | 40% chance of showers | +10°C | +7°C |
| Sat Mar 7 | 60% chance of showers | +12°C | +7°C |
🌧️ Full forecast: Environment Canada
🗽 NY Side News
Niagara University Community Mourns Student Killed in Main Street Crash
A 22-year-old Niagara University student was killed early Tuesday morning in a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue in Niagara Falls around 1 a.m. Police identified the student as Bradly Burden, who was driving a 2015 BMW when it spun out of control, struck a light pole, and hit chain-link fencing. Burden was from Anchorage, Alaska, majoring in management in the Holzschuh College of Business Administration and was also a member of the men's club hockey team.
The investigation is centered on excessive speed involving the BMW and road conditions on Main Street, which were described as "icy and snow-covered" at the time of the crash. A 20-year-old woman, also a Niagara University student from Rochester, was in the passenger seat; she was taken to Erie County Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University, said: "Bradly brought energy, commitment, and a strong spirit of friendship to our campus. His loss is deeply felt by his teammates, classmates, and professors. We hold Bradly's family in our prayers as they face this unimaginable loss." Counseling and campus ministry support are being provided to the NU community.
(WGRZ) (WKBW) (Lockport Journal)
GIVE Program Gets Results: Niagara Falls Crime Drops 35% in 2025
Good news worth shouting from Prospect Point: Niagara Falls has experienced a 35% drop in crime in 2025, according to statistics compiled by New York's Department of Criminal Justice Services. 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.
Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino credited the program, saying the investment in organizations like Community Missions of Niagara Frontier has helped make neighborhoods across the city safer, while acknowledging "there is still much work to do." The state-funded GIVE program has been central to the turnaround in what was once one of the most challenging crime environments in upstate New York.
Niagara Aerospace Museum Eyes Hydraulic Canal Parcel
The Niagara Aerospace Museum has put in a bid for a parcel along the Hydraulic Canal, adding another player to the ongoing tug-of-war over what to do with Niagara Falls' historically significant industrial waterway. The canal, which once powered some of the most important manufacturing in North America, has long been the subject of redevelopment dreams and competing visions.
The bid comes as the city also weighs a proposed $1.5 billion data center project in the downtown area, which has faced resistance from City Hall. The city's council recently voted against awarding the operating contract for a major development, and Niagara Falls is trying to turn away at least one data center proposal, bucking a trend seen in most U.S. cities rolling out the red carpet for tech investment.
Lockport's "Memorial Benches for Bob Ray" Campaign Launched
A "Memorial Benches for Bob Ray" GoFundMe campaign has been launched, with a goal of $7,500 for two steel benches and a memorial plaque. The campaign reflects the kind of community-minded gesture that Niagara County does better than just about anywhere — turning grief into something lasting and tangible.
Also from Lockport: the Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation, which operates the Erie Canal Flight of Five Locks, the Locks District Museum, and the Flight, has shared news this week ahead of what promises to be a busy spring and summer season at one of the region's most beloved landmarks. The Flight of Five is the sort of 19th-century engineering miracle that makes you wonder what excuse we have for not fixing that one pothole on Pine Avenue.
🏒 Sabres & Bills Roundup: It's Deadline Season, Baby
The Buffalo Sabres have won three straight and are sitting second in the Atlantic Division after their 6-2 blowout of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday — just four points behind division-leading Tampa, with the Lightning holding two games in hand. Tonight, the Sabres host the Vegas Golden Knights at KeyBank Center at 7 p.m. — a big home test as the trade deadline looms on Friday.
The Sabres are eyeing a reunion with Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Sitting at 35-19-6 and second in the Atlantic Division, Buffalo is a legitimate buyer, armed with $7.1 million in cap space and hunting for pieces to solidify a deep Stanley Cup playoff run. After 14 years of playoff-free misery, Sabres fans are forgiven for wanting to buy every piece of available furniture before the deadline.
Coach Lindy Ruff updated reporters Monday on four injured players: Jordan Greenway has rejoined the team after receiving a new type of treatment, while Jiri Kulich — who has been sidelined since November 1 with blood clot issues — is scheduled for evaluation on Tuesday to determine whether he can be cleared for a higher level of fitness.
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TODAY: Amalgamation Feedback Deadline — Ontario Niagara Decides Its Fate
Today is the deadline that's been sending municipal councillors across the Niagara Region into collective existential crisis. Local area mayors were asked to submit their feedback to Regional Chair Bob Gale and the Province by March 3, 2026, on whether to merge Niagara's 12 municipalities into either a single city or a four-city model.
The Regional Municipality of Niagara has a two-tier governance structure with an upper-tier government as well as 12 lower-tier municipalities with 126 councillors in total. Regional Chair Bob Gale has told the province the region has far too many tax increases, a growing capital backlog in the billions, and an inability to be fiscally prudent. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati has said he is in favour of amalgamating down to four cities, arguing that the two-tier government has led to bloated property tax increases and "too many politicians."
Niagara-on-the-Lake's Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa has insisted that "any conversation about restructuring local government must begin with evidence," expressing concern that amalgamation could risk redistribution of NOTL's tax base, dilute local representation, and impact responsive service levels. The Town formally submitted its feedback by today's deadline, with Council unanimously opposing amalgamation and advocating for the protection of Niagara-on-the-Lake's municipal independence. Somewhere between "one big city" and "twelve feudal kingdoms" lies the answer — and apparently they have until today to find it.
(CBC Hamilton/Niagara) (Niagara Now) (Global News)
Blood Moon Over Niagara — The Only One Until 2028
Skywatchers were treated to a striking celestial event in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026: a total lunar eclipse that turned the full Worm Moon a dramatic copper-red hue — the so-called "blood moon." This was the only total lunar eclipse visible anywhere in 2026, marking the third in a near-tetrad sequence and the last until late 2028.
Totality began at 6:04 a.m. EST, with maximum eclipse at 6:33 a.m. and totality ending at 7:02 a.m. — which unfortunately put it right around sunrise for Niagara, and right in the middle of the region's current cloud cover. The total lunar eclipse was technically fully visible from Niagara Falls — assuming you had a rocket ship or a very tall ladder above the clouds. Those who braved the dark and the chill were rewarded. Those who didn't can wait until December 31, 2028.
(timeanddate.com) (Niagara Falls Review / canada-today.com)
Niagara Falls ON Named Hamilton-Niagara Top Employer for 2026
The City of Niagara Falls has been selected as one of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers for 2026, a distinction that recognizes exceptional workplaces in the region. It's the kind of recognition that makes you feel good about the city's future — even when you're still filing a pothole report on the way into work.
City Hall also has a full Council Meeting today, March 3, and tomorrow brings a grand opening worth knowing about (see Events below). The city is also searching for local singers and musicians. The City of Niagara Falls and City Council are offering a unique opportunity for local singers and musicians to perform O Canada at Council meetings throughout 2026. If you can hold a note while politicians debate infrastructure budgets, this gig is for you.
NOTL Museum Expansion Moving Forward
The expansion of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum moved another step closer to reality as the town hosted an open house to gather community input on the proposal. The beloved institution, which tells the stories of one of Ontario's most historically rich communities, has been eyeing more space for years.
An opinion piece written by a Niagara-on-the-Lake town councillor, several stories, and the journalism of staff members of The Lake Report have been singled out by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association in its annual awards, a testament to the quality of community storytelling happening right here on the lakeshore. Which is frankly the right vibe for a town that was once the capital of Upper Canada.
(Niagara Now / The Lake Report)
Niagara IceDogs Schedule Heats Up This Week
The Niagara IceDogs (OHL) host the Saginaw Spirit at the Meridian Centre at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, followed by the Peterborough Petes on Friday at 7:00 p.m., before hitting the road Sunday to face the Brantford Bulldogs at 2:00 p.m. Three games in four days — the IceDogs are running hot this week, and the Meridian Centre is a great place to warm up if Tuesday's slush has you questioning your life choices.
📅 Events — Both Sides of the Border
Tue, Mar 3 | Tonight | Buffalo Sabres vs. Vegas Golden Knights — KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. 7:00 PM. The Sabres enter riding a three-game winning streak, sitting second in the Atlantic Division at 35-19-6. Tonight's deadline-week clash should be electric. (Ticketmaster)
Tue, Mar 3 | Tonight | Sunflowers Cycling Club Information Night — Heidehof Auditorium, 600 Lake St., St. Catharines, ON. 6:00–8:00 PM. Come ask questions and find out what the club is all about. (myNiagaraOnline)
Wed, Mar 4 | Tomorrow | Grand Opening: Crowded Table Cafe — MacBain Community Centre, Niagara Falls, ON. The grand opening of the Crowded Table Cafe is being held at the MacBain Community Centre at 4:30 PM. A community cafe opening — come celebrate and grab a bite. (City of Niagara Falls)
Wed, Mar 4 | Empty Bowls Fundraiser (21st Anniversary) — Holiday Inn, Niagara, ON. 5:00–9:00 PM. The 21st Anniversary of Empty Bowls is being celebrated on March 4, 2026 — a beloved fundraiser where community members come together, choose a handmade bowl, and enjoy soup to help fight food insecurity. (myNiagaraOnline)
Thu, Mar 5 | Boy George & Culture Club — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. Boy George with Culture Club takes the OLG Stage on Thursday, March 5 at 8:00 p.m. Karma, chameleon, and casino chips — a night to remember. (Ticketmaster CA)
Thu, Mar 5 | NHL Watch Party | Sabres Perreault & Foligno Watch Party — Buffalo/Niagara area. Niagara legends Gilbert Perreault and Nick Foligno are scheduled to attend a watch party on March 5 for the Sabres game at Pittsburgh. Check Sabres social for venue details. (Buffalo Sabres)
Fri, Mar 6 | Charley Crockett — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 8:00 PM. Tickets start from $86. Texas outlaw country with a Niagara Falls view — not a combination you expected, but here we are. (Ticketmaster CA)
Fri, Mar 6 | International Women's Day Celebration — Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, ON. 11:00 AM–2:30 PM. A celebration of women and the power of connection. (myNiagaraOnline)
Sat, Mar 7 | "The My Generation Tour" — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. The My Generation Tour takes the stage Saturday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. Classic rock nostalgia with casino flair. (Ticketmaster CA)
Sat, Mar 7 | Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators — KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. The Sabres host Nashville on Saturday, March 7 at 5:30 PM ET. (Ticketmaster)
Now Open / Ongoing | Niagara Falls State Park (NY Side) — Prospect Point open 24/7. The Niagara Falls Welcome Center is open daily from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM during March. Journey Behind the Falls (ON side): Adults $28.00, Children $18.50. Niagara Parks Power Station & Tunnel Tour: open 10:00 AM–6:00 PM daily, Adults $33.00, Children $21.50. (NiagaraFallsLive.com)
🌉 Across the Border
Today is one of those days when you feel both sides of the Niagara simultaneously. On the American side, a university community is grieving a young man from Alaska who had come to the banks of this great river to build a future. Bradly "Birdy" Burden was a beloved friend and teammate for Niagara University's club hockey team — and the Falls he lived near were, for a time, home. That's a shared sorrow that doesn't stop at the Rainbow Bridge.
On the Canadian side, 12 municipalities await the reckoning of today's amalgamation deadline, a question that's been lurking in Niagara politics longer than most councillors have been alive. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati says he's in favour of amalgamating into four cities, while Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop says the town isn't supportive. The irony is not lost on us: two cities on opposite banks of one river have long shared a postcard, a fog machine, and an identity — while the Ontario side can't even agree on whether its own towns should share a budget.
And overhead, in the early hours before the sleet and the clouds moved in, a total lunar eclipse turned the full Worm Moon a dramatic copper-red hue — visible from both sides of the border, no passport required. Whether you saw it or not, it happened above all of us: above the Falls, above the casino lights, above the potholes and the tax debates and the trade deadline buzz. That big red moon doesn't care which side of the Niagara River you're on. It just rises, does its thing, and leaves. Rather like the tourists.
🌊 The Falls — "We cover both sides so you don't have to cross in this weather."
📸 Feature photo by Kenneth Lopez on Unsplash