Lake effect develops after storm just misses: snow maps

After being missed by a significant winter storm on Thursday, the Finger Lakes will have areas of lake effect snow to contend with on Friday.

Snow storm skirts past Finger Lakes

As one weather system pulls away from the Finger Lakes region early Wednesday, a new system will start to take shape that will narrowly miss the area Wednesday night and Thursday.

A cold front is crossing the Finger Lakes this morning, sending temperatures from the upper 40s into the 30s in a hurry. Temperatures will continue to drop slowly through the 30s over the course of the day today as cold air settles in.

The first storm will lift into far eastern Canada today, but a secondary system will develop along the cold front over the Ohio Valley.

This winter storm will rapidly intensify as it moves into the Mid-Atlantic and off the coast of southern New England. A large area will see significant snow, including Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.

The northern edge of this system will bring some light snow into the Finger Lakes for a couple hours overnight tonight. Accumulations should be limited to an inch or less. Several inches may fall as close as northern Pennsylvania and the eastern Southern Tier.

Cold with Lake Effect

The indirect impacts from this system will have a greater impact on the weather in the Finger Lakes Thursday and Friday.

As the storm winds up, it will pull more cold air south from Canada into the Finger Lakes region.

Temperatures will only rise a couple of degrees on Thursday, resulting in daily maximum temperatures just barely above 20 degrees. Combined with winds that will gust between 35-45 mph, and the wind chill will make it feel more like the single digits.

Lake effect snow will start to organize southeast of Lake Ontario Thursday evening and will persist well into the day on Friday.

A well-organized snow band with locally heavy snow appears likely, though there is still some uncertainty in the exact location of the band. Everyone from Rochester to Syracuse to Ithaca should continue to monitor the forecast for the potential for moderate accumulations Thursday night and Friday.

The wind will continue to be gusty, creating areas of blowing snow and reduced visibility.

Warmer Weekend

A surge of warmer air will disrupt the lake effect snow by Friday evening, but a widespread light snow is likely to take its place.

Most areas will see an inch or two Friday night. This precipitation will end as a little rain as temperatures begin to rise.

By Saturday afternoon, the cold will be a distant memory as temperatures again push 50 degrees.

Rain showers and wind are likely for Sunday as a new storm system moves in.

Depending on how this system evolves, temperatures could be as low as the low 40s on Sunday, or as high as the upper 50s.