Brief Lull Monday Ahead of Clipper System
Some light lake effect snow continues this morning across portions of the Finger Lakes, but will come to an end as winds begin to shift.
Northwest winds will turn calm, and then swing to the south as a small bubble of high pressure crosses the region this afternoon.
Skies will remain quite cloudy, but a few glimpses of sun cannot be ruled out.
Temperatures Monday will remain below normal, with highs struggling to get more than a degree or two above 30 degrees.
The temperature will remain around 30 degrees into the even as warm air moves north ahead of an incoming storm system.
Precipitation from this system should hold off until midnight or later tonight.
Widespread Snow Into Tuesday
Precipitation will then move in ahead of the system as primarily snow. A few parts of the interior Finger Lakes and Southern Tier could mix with a little rain at times into early Tuesday morning.
Further north and west, and over higher elevations, temperatures will be just a bit colder, resulting in some accumulating snow.
Several inches could fall in some areas, with additional accumulations throughout the daytime hours on Tuesday.
Marginal temperatures and some lulls in the precipitation should help cut down some on accumulations on Tuesday and will hopefully keep the roads relatively clean.
Still, some slick areas are likely, especially early Tuesday.
Later in the afternoon, the Great Lakes will start to throw extra moisture into the region, enhancing the snow. Eventually, lake effect will take over as the storm system pulls away Tuesday evening.
In all, snow accumulations through Tuesday evening will be heaviest near the Great Lakes and least across the Southern Tier and central Finger Lakes.
Lake Effect in the Finger Lakes
Northwest winds, ample moisture, and a favorable atmosphere will lead to lake effect snow persisting through Tuesday night and Wednesday and possibly lingering into Thursday morning.
Some of this lake effect will be heavy and Winter Storm Watches have been posted for the counties near and downwind of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
A spray of flurries and squalls is likely to develop Tuesday evening. Gradually, this should consolidate into an area of snow over the northern and eastern Finger Lakes.
Snow accumulations of several additional inches are likely on Wednesday, especially near and north of I-90.
Accumulating snow may extend south into areas east of Cayuga Lake as well.
An additional snow accumulation map will be posted Tuesday morning which will cover the lake effect event Tuesday night through Wednesday.
In addition to the snow, it will turn very cold. High temperatures Wednesday and Thursday will struggle to get much past 20 degrees.
