Sunshine increases across the Finger Lakes

Cool, but Pleasant Weather Tuesday

An area of high pressure will bring nicer weather to the Finger Lakes on Tuesday, though temperatures will still be running below normal.

The region is a mix of clear skies and lake effect clouds early this morning. Where skies are clear, temperatures are starting between 30-35 degrees. Upper 30s and low 40s are more common where the lake effect clouds are thick.

As high pressure builds in, winds will become a bit more southerly. This should help shift the lake clouds out of the region while the high at the same time begins to suppress them.

The end result should be a good deal of sunshine throughout Tuesday with no precipitation.

High temperatures will rise to around 50 degrees, with the northern and central Finger Lakes likely getting a degree or two above 50 degrees while the outlying higher elevations end up a couple degrees below.

Temperatures at this time of the year should be in the upper 50s, so this is still a bit below normal.

One interesting note for today- Ithaca’s record high is 84 degrees, set 121 years ago in 1897!

Cold Front Wednesday Brings Rain, Snow

Clouds will increase overnight tonight out ahead of a cold front. This front will move into the area Wednesday morning and should clear the region by the afternoon hours.

Scattered rain showers and strong winds will accompany the front. Wind gusts of 35-45 mph will be possible throughout Wednesday with the highest gusts along the shore of Lake Ontario and over higher elevations. These strong winds will come from the northwest.

Temperatures will start Wednesday in the low 40s and will rise into the mid and upper 40s for the late morning and afternoon hours. As the sun sets, cold air will really start to take hold as temperatures fall into the 30s. Most areas will be near or below 35 degrees before midnight.

The cold air will give birth to a band of lake effect precipitation. This will start as mostly rain in the late afternoon, but will transition over to areas of mixed precipitation and straight snow.

This band of precipitation will not be a steady stream of precipitation, but rather will be comprised of brief bursts of precipitation that are short lived. However, during those bursts, the precipitation may come down hard.

Snow accumulations will be limited by the brief nature of individual precipitation cells, the transient nature of the band, and the fact that it is the first snow of the season. Still, some higher elevations east of Lake Ontario could see a light slushy coating up to a half-inch or so.

Precipitation should gradually lessen late in the overnight, though a few showers of flurries may linger into early Thursday morning. Morning lows Thursday will range from the upper 20s into the low 30s, resulting in a killing freeze for many areas.

More Sun to End Week

High pressure should build back in for the second half of Thursday. Winds will still be a bit gusty, especially towards Central New York where top gusts will be around 30 mph.

Like today, lake effect clouds early in the day should give way to increasing sunshine.

Temperatures will remain very cold though, with highs struggling into the low 40s.

South winds will take hold on Friday with a good deal of sunshine.

Morning lows will start in the low and mid 30s, but afternoon highs will moderate nicely. Look for afternoon temperatures in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees.

More unsettled cold weather is likely through the weekend and into next week though with multiple additional chances for snow showers.