Snow chances this week in the Finger Lakes

While large amounts of snow are unlikely, the Finger Lakes has a couple more chances to turn white this week.

Light Coatings of Snow

A quick moving storm system moved through the Finger Lakes during the predawn hours Monday morning. This system brought a light snow to the area, with most areas seeing a coating to perhaps an inch or two.

A second such event is likely Tuesday night as another quick moving system approaches from the southwest.

After cloudy, but quiet daytime hours Monday and Tuesday, precipitation will start to break out once again Tuesday evening. While a little rain could mix in at first, most of the precipitation is expected to be snow at this point.

The best chance for snow will be after 9pm Tuesday and before dawn on Wednesday.

Like the snow early Monday, accumulations should be limited to under two inches, with the highest amounts over higher elevations.

Temperatures during the daytime hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will all be near or slightly above 40 degrees, so most of the snow that falls will probably not stick around too long.

Late Week Lake Effect

Colder air will move in behind Tuesday night’s storm system. The transition to cold will be slow, but by Friday, high temperatures will struggle to reach 30 degrees.

With the cold air, lake effect snow is expected to develop across the region.

Initially, winds will be from the west-southwest as lake effect starts to develop on Thursday. This will keep snow from Lake Ontario well north of the Finger Lakes, but Lake Erie will send some squalls into the area.

Depending on how stationary and intense the bands are, several inches could fall in some localized areas across the Finger Lakes on Thursday.

Winds will gradually swing around to the north by Friday. This will send the snow bands pivoting towards the south, removing Lake Erie snow from the region, but introducing lake effect from Lake Ontario.

At this point, it is too early to tell exactly when and where the lake effect will set up, or how much will fall as a result. At this point, I am not expecting a blockbuster event, but travel could become tricky in some areas later in the week.

Stay tuned!

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