Unpleasant April Surprise
Snow in the Finger Lakes during April is a yearly occurrence. That doesn’t make it any more fun, though.
Much of the Finger Lakes region is waking up to white for the first day of April, especially over the eastern half of the area where lake effect snow continues.
Some areas just have a coating on the ground while others have several inches. Central Square in southern Oswego County has picked up 9 inches overnight.
The intensity of the lake effect will drop as the sun rises this morning, but scattered flurries and a few squalls will continue to be possible through the morning. This will especially be the case in the favored northwest-wind snowbelts between Auburn, Syracuse, and Cortland.
Additional accumulations should be minimal, but a few areas could see another inch or two.
Incoming high pressure will decrease the amount of moisture available to the lake effect and disrupt the wind fields later this morning into the afternoon. As this happens, the lake effect should diminish, and skies will turn sunny.
Afternoon highs will reach the upper 30s for most areas with a few mid 30s scattered about.
A developing south wind will hold temperatures in the 20s overnight, despite mostly clear skies and the fresh snow cover.
Up and Down Pattern Persists
Tuesday will be much warmer as south winds continue across the region. The northern Finger Lakes should push into the low 50s with upper 40s to the south.
A deck of thin overcast will allow some filtered sunshine through, but it will not be fully sunny tomorrow.
During Tuesday and Tuesday night, an area of low pressure will strengthen along the east coast. Yes, this system will meet the technical definition of the media-hijacked “bomb cyclone” terminology due to its rapid strengthening. This is not an uncommon occurrence, especially for east coast systems.
This system will not have any direct impact in the Finger Lakes or for much of the Northeastern United States. Areas right along the New England Coast will get a bit of rain, wind, and possibly some minor beach erosion. The majority of the storm will remain well out at sea.
Meanwhile, here in the Finger Lakes, Wednesday will turn out to be a nice day. Expect plenty of sunshine and highs into the mid 50s. The one catch will be a strong west wind that could gust over 40 mph, especially in the I-390 Corridor.
The main impact the coastal low will have will be to bring in a shot of cool air on those west winds for Thursday. Expect highs in the low 40s, despite another sunny day.
The weather will turn more unsettled locally late in the week and into the weekend. Periods of rain showers are likely, though heavy precipitation is not expected at this time.
Temperatures Friday may again struggle to get beyond the low 40s before warmer weather moves back in for the weekend. Sunday especially looks nice at this early juncture.
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