After a bitter weekend, temperatures may reach as high as the 50s this week.
Active Weather During Transition
The Finger Lakes will experience a big change in the weather this week, with significant warming expected by Wednesday and Thursday.
Not surprisingly, this transition from very cold to well above normal will come with some active weather.
The week will start off quiet, with only a subtle change in the weather pattern. A weak weather system will move across southern Canada on Monday. Winds have already turned towards the south ahead of this system, and temperatures will respond with low and mid 20s for highs on Monday.
A much stronger storm system will move into the Great Lakes on Tuesday. This system will bring a couple of inches of snow to the Finger Lakes Tuesday afternoon and evening. Some freezing rain and sleet may mix in at times before temperatures gradually rise above freezing Tuesday evening. The ice threat should be a bit more certain tomorrow morning, so make sure to check back for a post specific to that threat around 7am-7:30am Tuesday.
In addition to the wintry precipitation, winds will become quite strong yet again Tuesday evening. Winds will start to gust over 30 mph during the afternoon, with gusts at least reaching 40 mph during the evening. Higher elevations will be more susceptible to stronger wind gusts, a few of which could exceed 50 mph.
Well Above Normal Temperatures Mid-Week
Those strong, southerly winds will pump warm air north into the Finger Lakes. Temperatures Tuesday night should rise into the 40s, with highs Wednesday afternoon ranging from the mid 40s to near 50 degrees.
The weather on Wednesday should be quiet as one storm system pulls away and another approaches. This next system will spread more rain into the region Wednesday night and Thursday. Along with the rain will be a continued upward trend in temperatures.
The temperatures this week should peak Wednesday afternoon and evening when temperatures well into the 50s are possible.
Given that it is only Monday, the temperatures on Thursday are still a bit uncertain. While there is a chance that the warm air will fall short and temperatures will only reach the 40s, it is also possible that even warmer readings will push into the Finger Lakes.
For comparison, average highs during this time of the year range from the upper 20s to the low 30s.
Temperatures will return to more wintry readings starting Friday, with 20s expected into the weekend.
