Rain returns to the Finger Lakes tonight

In Like a Lion, Out Like a….Lion

The old folk saying that claims March starts and ends on opposite spectrums is proving false this year. March roared in like a lion with an active, windy weather pattern and will depart equally intense with rain, wind, and a small chance for some mixed precipitation and/or thunder.

The radar this morning is already showing precipitation working into western New York. However, this precipitation is not actually reaching the ground yet as high pressure overhead tries to hold its ground.

It will fight a losing battle as low pressure tracks from Kansas this morning towards our region. Rain will start to make inroads from the southwest during the afternoon hours. By as soon as 3 or 4 pm, much of the area could be seeing at least a few light showers.

Rain will increase in coverage and intensity this evening and overnight. While the vast majority of what falls will be rain, there is a small chance for a little icy mixed precipitation across some of the higher elevations of the Southern Tier and along the I-81 corridor. More significant mixed precipitation will occur much further east in Central and Eastern New York.

Periods of rain will continue throughout Friday. A couple of rumbles of thunder are not out of the question, especially for areas further east.

Rain totals will generally be between 1-1.5″ by the time this system winds down. Some areas could see less and some could see more. For most of the region, this will not produce any flood concerns. Cortland, Broome, Tioga and Chemung county may need to watch for some minor flooding, though.

Winds will pick up tonight, with top gusts overnight and Friday between 35-40 mph.

The Weather’s April Fool’s Joke

This storm system will be pulling away early Saturday morning as March turns to April. The storm is expected to strengthen off of the east coast, pulling cold air in on the back side of the system.

As the precipitation ends, there is a decent chance it will turn to snow for a time Saturday morning. There is a possibility of waking up Saturday morning to a coating of new snow.

The eastern Finger Lakes seem especially susceptible to this, and some snow showers may linger through the morning hours east of Cayuga Lake.

The joke is much worse for parts of the Adirondacks and New England. Just enough cold air will work into those areas for most of the storm to fall as snow. Over a foot of snow may fall in some of those areas.

Don’t worry though. Mother Nature’s little prank will be short lived. Temperatures Sunday and most of next week will be back into the 50s.