Cold front stabilizes atmosphere this afternoon

A cold front will cross the region this afternoon. Some showers and a few thunderstorms will move through the Finger Lakes ahead of this front during the middle of Friday.
A cold front will cross the region this afternoon. Some showers and a few thunderstorms will move through the Finger Lakes ahead of this front during the middle of Friday.

The weather has been very unstable during this past week due to the battle of cold and warm that set up along a stalled out frontal boundary.Active weather is simply the atmosphere trying to correct the imbalance and to restore order. A strengthening area of low pressure is accomplishing this task as it tracks through the Great Lakes.

Before its work is done though, we have one more day of active weather today. Showers and a few thunderstorms out ahead of the cold front associated with this low pressure are already entering into western New York and Pennsylvania this morning. These particular showers and storms will track northeast across the region this morning, but some additional showers and storms will be possible into the early afternoon, especially across the eastern Finger Lakes.

The front itself is lagging quite a bit to the west of this precipitation, allowing for a wedge of warm air to work northward. I expect some of this warm air to briefly make it into the Finger Lakes, with most areas reaching the upper 50s to low 60s this afternoon.

It will also be quite windy, especially across western New York, where some gusts over 40 mph are likely. Wind advisories are in place for these areas.

Once the front slides through, temperatures will drop and the atmosphere will have its balance restored. This will result in a quiet weekend across the Finger Lakes. Saturday may be a bit cool, but Sunday is looking great with highs near or above 60Âş.

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.