Lake effect squalls Friday in the Finger Lakes

finger lakes weather forecast friday february 2 2018 lake effect snow squalls
Squalls off Lake Ontario will be possible all across the Finger Lakes today, but especially in the northeast corner of the region. [Photo by Nanci McCraine]

Squally, Cold Friday Weather

Cold temperatures, gusty winds, and periods of lake effect snow will make for a wintry Friday across the Finger Lakes.

At 7 am, a strong band of lake effect snow was hugging the shore of Lake Ontario. This lake effect band is being enhanced by a wind shift that is acting as a mini-front.

The wind is shifting from the northwest to the north and will send this squall south across the Finger Lakes this morning.

finger lakes interactive weather radar
Mobile friendly and interactive, Finger Lakes Weather’s radar page is the place to go for up-to-the-minute information. Color coded to easily see rain, snow, and ice! Click here!

As the squall marches south, rapidly changing conditions are likely as snow suddenly begins to intensely fall.

Near white-out conditions may be possible briefly, but the band should last only 30 minutes or less. A quick inch or two will fall.

Timing this band will be tricky, but by 9 or 10 am it should stretch from about Geneseo to Penn Yan to Cortland. The band should slowly weaken as it heads south into the southern Finger Lakes and Southern Tier late this morning.

Keep an eye on the radar this morning if you are traveling and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

New lake effect will set up behind this squall, primarily from Wayne to southern Onondaga County. Auburn and Syracuse could see squally weather throughout the day.

Elsewhere, lake effect should be limited to a few scattered showers.

Temperatures will remain cold today with little upward movement. With the gusty north and northwest winds, wind chills will be just below zero for most of the day.

Temperatures Improve, But Weather Stays Active

Winds will turn back to the west tonight and then to the southwest Saturday morning. This will remove the lake effect snow from our area and start temperatures on an upward trend.

Saturday will be a quiet day with a mix of sun and clouds. Highs will reach into the mid and upper 20s.

Temperatures Saturday night will hold steady and then begin to rise again towards dawn Sunday.

A few flurries will start to work in by dawn Sunday as well. Snow, mixing with some rain, will continue lightly on and off through Sunday as temperatures push into the mid 30s.

Late Sunday, a coastal storm will take shape and could spread some steadier snow towards Central New York. However, at this time, the majority of the precipitation from this system is expected to stay well east of the Finger Lakes.

Next Week Preview

Temperatures will retreat again early next week as northwest winds take hold behind the coastal system. However, Monday is expected to be a partly cloudy day with no lake effect precipitation.

A widespread light snow is expected to move through the area on Tuesday as a warm front sets up south of the region.

A couple inches may fall from this, but as low pressure moves along the front Wednesday, more substantial precipitation, and/or a warm up into the 40s will be possible.

Obviously, this far out, it is too uncertain to tell which side of the razor-thin line between warm and snow we will end up on.

Temperatures should fall back below normal with low and mid 20s for highs towards the end of next week.

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Follow Meteorologist Drew Montreuil:
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil has been forecasting the weather in the Finger Lakes region since 2006 and has degrees in meteorology from SUNY Oswego (B.S. with Honors) and Cornell (M.S.). Drew and his wife have four young boys. When not working or playing with the boys, he is probably out for a run through the countryside.

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