Sunshine and Warmer Temperatures
The Finger Lakes will enjoy more pleasant late autumn weather Friday into Saturday before a soaking rain settles in Saturday night and Sunday.
Out ahead of the storm system that will bring the rain, high pressure will keep the region sunny with increasing temperatures.
Skies are sunny this morning across the Finger Lakes and should remain as such throughout the day.
High, thin cirrus clouds will also be present at times, but should not filter out too much of the sunlight.
Temperatures will be much warmer today than they were yesterday, despite a chilly start to the morning. Look for afternoon highs near or just above 60 degrees.
Winds Friday will remain light but will increase for Saturday. A few wind gusts over 35 mph may possible, especially over the higher terrain of the eastern Finger Lakes.
Temperatures will increase slightly, with highs in the mid 60s Saturday after morning lows in the 40s.
Rain Arrives Saturday Evening
Rain will very slowly make its way into the Finger Lakes Saturday evening from the west.
Most areas will likely hold out until the sun is setting before showers begin. Once the rain starts, it should transition from showery to steady by the middle of the evening.
Rain will continue through the night and Sunday morning. The steady nature of the rain may become a bit more broken Sunday afternoon, but the rain should persist.
Rainfall amounts through Sunday afternoon should generally be around an inch, give or take a couple tenths of an inch.
As the rain spreads east Saturday night and early Sunday, so too will another batch of chilly air.
Temperatures will drop into the mid 40s as a cold front moves through and will remain there throughout the day on Sunday.
More Significant Concern Sunday Evening
By Sunday afternoon, the cold front will be stalling out over eastern New York or western New England. This will serve as a pathway for low pressure to ride along from the Mid-Atlantic coast.
This second low pressure system will be strengthening as it moves inland Sunday evening to our southeast.
Tropical moisture will surge north, resulting in widespread heavy rain Sunday night. There remain uncertainties on how far west the heaviest rain will come.
For areas roughly east of Cayuga Lake, there is at least some potential for significant rainfall Sunday evening with multiple additional inches falling.
West of Cayuga Lake, the threat for excessive rain is less, but another 1 to 2 inches could still fall.
A track further east would mean less rain for the Finger Lakes.
Strong winds Sunday evening will mostly stay along and east of the cold front, but winds Monday will likely gust over 35 mph as the storm system pulls away.
For those that have heard some hype regarding snow with this system, at most a few wet flakes could mix in early Monday morning over the higher elevations of the Southern Tier. Most areas should not see even that, though.
Stay tuned for continuing updates as the details get fine-tuned over the next 24-48 hours.
