Temperatures Begin Steady Climb
Warm air is starting to work into the Finger Lakes as high pressure shifts to the southeast. Over the next three days, temperatures will climb well above normal.
Temperatures vary this morning across the Finger Lakes. Most areas remain in the 20s, but for areas east of Cayuga Lake, it is a rather cold morning.
Warm air has not yet infiltrated these areas. Some areas also have several inches of snow on the ground. With clear skies overnight, temperatures have dropped into the teens and even upper single digits.
Sunshine and an increase in warm air infiltration will help temperatures recover quickly this morning and into the afternoon.
Low and mid 40s are expected for most of the Finger Lakes. Those areas starting out below 20 degrees today may fall just shy of 40 degrees this afternoon.
Winds will be light today and sunshine abundant. Only some thin wispy cirrus clouds are expected.
South winds will continue into the overnight. Temperatures Thursday morning will range from 25 to 30 degrees.
Thursday will start with more sunshine, but clouds will build in late in the day. High temperatures will be near or just above 50 degrees for most areas. Winds will again be light.
Active Weather Thursday Night-Friday
A large storm system will work up the Appalachian Mountains Thursday night. Rain will enter the Finger Lakes from the south in the hours leading up to midnight.
A period of moderate rain is expected with the heaviest falling over the western Finger Lakes. As much as an inch could fall.
Strong winds may also develop, especially over Central New York. Gusts in the Friday predawn hours could exceed 40 mph in some areas.
Dry, warm air will wrap around the storm center Friday, resulting in a balmy, breezy, and rather dry Friday.
A narrow wedge of 55-60 degree temperatures will move into the eastern half of the Finger Lakes with upper 40s and low 50s further west.
The center of the low pressure system will pass over the western Finger Lakes Friday evening. Showers and even thunderstorms will be possible with the heaviest rain again to the west.
White Christmas Chances Not Ruined
Cold air will rush in behind the low as it lifts north into Canada. Temperatures will fall from near 50 degrees Friday evening to near or below 30 degrees Saturday morning.
A period of snow will be possible as temperatures cool. Accumulations will be limited to a dusting for most areas though.
Temperatures will hover near 30 degrees on Saturday with northwest winds gusting over 30 mph.
Winds will let up on Sunday and temperatures will bounce back into the mid 30s. Sunshine early will be replaced by clouds late.
A small system will swing through Sunday night into Monday morning. A coating to perhaps an inch or so of snow will be possible.
The rest of Monday and Tuesday, Christmas Eve and Christmas, look quiet with mostly cloudy skies and highs in the mid 30s.
Christmas therefore may end up with just a thin coating of white to make it look festive.
