Friday final day of extreme warmth for the Finger Lakes

Temperatures will reach towards 70 degrees today for most of the Finger Lakes, but a strong cold front will bring a sudden end to the warmth on Saturday.

Nearing 70 Degrees Friday

A warm front is lifting through the Finger Lakes this morning. An area of rain is now mostly contained to the I-90 Corridor and will continue to lift northeast. Some thunderstorms are embedded within this rain.

South of the front, warm air will start streaming north once again. Temperatures will rise quickly this morning as skies gradually become less cloudy. By this afternoon, some areas may become quite sunny.

Temperatures will rise to near 70 degrees for most of the Finger Lakes this afternoon.

Areas right along the shore of Lake Ontario may end up much cooler though as the warm front sits over the area. The temperature forecast is very difficult across the northern halves of Monroe and Wayne counties. The difference in temperature could be as extreme as having 70 degrees fifteen miles inland and upper 40s on the lake shore.

The difference in temperature could be as extreme as having 70 degrees fifteen miles inland and upper 40s on the lake shore.

Confidence in 70 degree temperatures is fairly high across the remainder of the region, though.

Windy, Stormy Front Saturday

Saturday is still expected to be a bit of a wild day as a cold front plows through, bringing an end to the warmth with a bang.

This front will likely cross the Finger Lakes during the midday hours. Ahead of the front, temperatures will start the day in the 50s and should have little trouble sneaking into the low 60s before noon.

Winds will be gusty even ahead of the front, with gusts over 40 mph likely, especially over higher elevations.

A squall line is likely to develop along the front. This squall line will have a narrow band of very heavy rain and a burst of strong wind. Some thunder and lightning will also be possible, and some severe thunderstorm warnings could be prompted.

As the front moves through, there will be an immediate sharp drop in temperature from the 60s to the 40s in a matter of 30 minutes or less.

Steady rain will fall for an hour or two behind the front, with more wind gusts of 40-50 mph. Some snow may mix in with the rain before it ends as cold air pours in behind the front.

Where is the Cold?

The sudden change to more normal temperatures will come as a shock to the system, but even the cold air behind this front will be a bit warmer than the seasonal normal temperatures.

High temperatures will be quite close to normal on Sunday with mid and upper 30s.

Temperatures will return to the 40s for Monday and Tuesday, and there may even be a few 50s in the area on Wednesday.

Sunday and Monday both look dry, but rain seems possible throughout the day Tuesday and Wednesday.

Colder air is lurking, though, with an extended period of below normal temperatures possible starting next weekend and continuing well into the middle part of March.