Temperatures soar as winds increase

Promised Warm Up Arrives

Above normal temperatures this morning will translate into some of the warmest air yet in 2019 this afternoon and again on Friday.

A strong storm system over the middle of the nation is pushing warm air north including into the Finger Lakes.

Morning temperatures are starting out generally around 40 degrees, but temperatures aloft are even warmer.

As the sun climbs higher in the sky, winds will begin to strengthen and will help bring down the warmer air aloft. Add in at least partial sunshine, and temperatures will soar.

Most areas should get above 55 degrees today and there is a chance, if enough sunshine is out, that many could exceed 60 degrees.

For most of the Finger Lakes, temperatures in 2019 have only exceeded 50 degrees 2 or 3 times with a peak around 60 degrees on February 5^th.

The chances for rain today will be minimal. No precipitation is expected through the mid afternoon with just a few isolated showers, mostly west of Seneca Lake, during the early evening.

Temperatures will fall back to around 50 degrees this evening, then rise into the low and mid 50s by Friday morning.

Highs on Friday should be near or above 60 degrees throughout the Finger Lakes. A cold front will cross the region, however, with a quick drop back into the 40s. By the evening, snow showers will start to fly.

Again, only a few scattered showers are expected through most of Friday before a better chance for rain and snow in the evening.

Strong Winds Accompany Warm-Up

The biggest trade off we will have for the warm weather will be another period of gusty winds. These winds should not be as strong as last weekend or the late February wind storm.

Winds will be from the southeast throughout the daytime hours today. Gusts could exceed 30 mph this afternoon.

The wind will shift to the south, then southwest overnight. Top wind gusts in excess of 55 mph will be possible in the favored wind belt from Buffalo to Rochester. Gusts could top 50 mph for Dansville, Canandaigua, and Wayne county as well.

Most of the remainder of the Finger Lakes will see gusts of 35-45 mph this evening. The higher elevations from Owasco Lake eastward could have a couple gusts approach 50 mph.

Winds on Friday will continue to come from the southwest with a shift to the west during the evening. Gusts will be more uniform across the region with most areas seeing 35-45 mph gusts, especially during the morning. Gusts will drop to 25-35 mph Friday night.

Blustery winds will continue into the weekend as well. Instead of warm air, these will be cold winds from the west-northwest on Saturday. Gusts will continue to exceed 35 mph. With temperatures in the 30s, the wind chill will fall into the 20s.

Areas of lake effect snow will also result, mostly during the morning hours Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with little to no accumulations.

Sunday and Monday will both have gusts of 25-35 mph before high pressure finally brings light winds in on Tuesday.

The weather next week looks quiet across much of the United States with high pressure systems dominating the country. This will result in temperatures within 5-10 degrees of normal, but generally on the warm side of normal starting Wednesday.