Cold front brings thunderstorms, some strong, to the Finger Lakes Friday

Cold Front Brings Strong Thunderstorms

The Finger Lakes region will experience one final day of heat and humidity before a cold front clears the region out. Strong thunderstorms are possible along and ahead of this front, especially during the evening hours.

Already this morning, a few showers and storms have developed over the western Finger Lakes well out ahead of the front. These storms are not severe and are not expected to strengthen as they lift off to the northeast.

Many areas will not see any rain this morning. Instead, skies will remain sunny and temperatures will quickly rise through the 70s and into the 80s by noon.

Afternoon highs will top out in the mid and upper 80s, with a few of the typically hottest areas making a run at 90 degrees.

A few more scattered thunderstorms may develop during the afternoon hours, but again, most areas will probably stay dry. Any storm that does develop this afternoon will have a chance to be strong to severe with gusty winds and hail. A tornado cannot be totally ruled out, either.

As the cold front approaches this evening, an organized line of thunderstorms will develop. A few cells will also be possible out ahead of the main line. Again, wind and hail will be the primary threat with both the line and any storms ahead of it, but the slim possibility of a tornado will remain.

This line of storms should enter the Finger Lakes region from the west by 7 or 8 PM and will make its way east over the next few hours. By 11 PM or Midnight, the storms should be east of the Finger Lakes.

The severe threat will persist for a couple of hours after the sun sets, keeping most of the region under the gun for localized severe thunderstorms. East of Cayuga Lake, the threat should begin to diminish late this evening.

A small flash flood threat may also exist due to the heavy rain associated with the storms. However, the storms should move quickly enough that major flooding is unlikely.

For the details on exactly how hot it will get this afternoon, as well as the timing and threat from this evening’s thunderstorms, check out your zip code forecast using the form below:

Much Cooler Saturday, Nice Sunday

An entirely new air mass will march into the Finger Lakes behind the cold front tonight.

Gusty west winds will set up on Saturday as the cool air floods into the region. Temperatures will start the day in the low 60s but will struggle to even reach 70 degrees during the afternoon.

Showers are likely during the early morning hours, but these should become more scattered by midday. Little to no precipitation is expected during the afternoon.

Wind gusts over 30 mph will be common place, especially for areas west of Seneca Lake.

Some sun may start to poke out late in the afternoon and skies will turn clear Saturday night. Areas of fog are likely, especially in the typically fog prone valleys.

Sunday morning will get off to a chilly start with morning temperatures in the low 50s. Fog will persist into the mid morning, but then a bright, sunny day is in store.

Temperatures will be more comfortable, topping out in the mid 70s.