Arctic Freeze Eases Up
Temperatures and especially wind chills Friday morning are warmer than they were for the last couple of days as the deep freeze eases up somewhat for the Finger Lakes.
Most areas are starting the day above zero, though there are some sub-zero readings in the typically colder areas. Temperatures are closer to 10 degrees right along the Finger Lakes, where it is usually warmer.
After highs in the single digits on Thursday, today will turn a bit warmer as temperatures rise into the mid teens.
Winds will be lighter than in recent days, keeping wind chills near or above zero.
Friday will mostly just be cloudy, though a stray snow shower will be possible here and there.
Temperatures will drop back to around 10 degrees this evening before rising overnight back towards the low and mid teens.
The temperature will continue to rise Saturday, with most places getting close to or above 20 degrees.
Snow Saturday, then Lake Effect
An area of widespread, light snow will overspread the Finger Lakes early Saturday morning.
This snow is not expected to accumulate much, with most areas only seeing a coating to perhaps an inch.
The widespread snow will move out by the early afternoon. Lake effect will quickly develop in its wake.
Initially, the lake effect will be disorganized, but some heavier squalls will still be possible from time to time.
Saturday night into Sunday, the lake effect should consolidate, first into multiple bands south of Lake Ontario, then a more concentrated spray of flurries and squalls over the northeastern Finger Lakes.
A couple of inches of lake effect will be possible from Rochester to Ithaca to Syracuse, but the highest snow totals will be near the shore of Lake Ontario in Wayne County.
The lake effect may briefly move north on Monday before returning Monday night and Tuesday.
Bitter Cold Returns
A fresh wave of arctic air will settle back into the Finger Lakes behind Saturday’s snow.
By Sunday morning, temperatures will be back into single digit and sub-zero territory.
Temperatures will rise very little on Sunday with highs similar to Thursday’s single digits.
Gusty winds of 25-30 mph will keep wind chills between -5 and -15 throughout the day Sunday.
New Year’s Eve will be frigid as temperatures drop below zero in the higher elevations and fall a few degrees closer to the lakes. The wind will lessen slightly, but wind chills will remain in the -5 to -15 degree range with a few places possibly approaching -20 degrees.
Lows Monday morning will fall below zero for all but the warmest areas, but then temperatures will again moderate towards the middle of the week. Yet another blast of arctic air, perhaps the most intense yet, awaits for the end of next week.
