Thursday-Friday Weather
Low-level moisture is trapped over much of the region this morning in the form of cloud cover.
These clouds will eventually erode away as high pressure builds in. Often in these situations, the clouds can linger longer than expected. Therefore, it would not be surprising to see clouds most of the morning before a gradual transition to sunshine for the afternoon.
No precipitation is expected from any of the clouds.
As the high pressure passes overhead today, light winds this morning will turn calm this afternoon before picking up again this evening from the southeast.
Temperatures will mostly depend on the amount of sunshine, with low and mid 40s expected.
Thin clouds out ahead of low pressure over the Upper Midwest this morning will start to stream in before sunset this afternoon. The clouds will persist through the overnight but should not really thicken up until Friday morning.
Overnight lows should be around or just under 30 degrees.
Precipitation will start Friday morning as a few spotty flurries. By the midday and early afternoon, the precipitation should become more widespread. Much of this will turn over to rain as temperatures push into the low 40s, but some higher elevations and western areas may see wet snow.
Cooler air will work in during the afternoon and rain will gradually turn back to snow by evening. The snow will then break up during the evening with only a few flurries remaining by midnight.
Surface temperatures will be warm into the late afternoon tomorrow. Road conditions should remain wet and any accumulation that takes place will mostly be on grassy surfaces over higher elevations. As the sun sets, temperatures will fall to or below freezing for most areas, allowing slushy snow accumulations even at lower elevations and on some roadways.
In all, most areas should see a coating to perhaps two inches. A few higher elevations may see three or four inches. Only minor travel impacts are expected, with those coming during the evening hours. Rural and untreated roads will have the greatest impact with slush and patches of ice as temperatures drop below freezing.
Weekend Weather and Next Week Preview
A new area of high pressure will build in behind Friday’s system for Saturday. After some morning clouds, sunshine should take over.
We will remain on the cool side of the high for Saturday, but the increasing strength of the March sun should propel temperatures into the 30s. Saturday night, temperatures will initially fall, but will rise back into the 25-30 degree range by Sunday morning as winds turn to the south behind the high.
Once the sun is up on Sunday, temperatures will shoot upward thanks to ample sunshine and south winds.
Highs on Sunday should top out in the mid and upper 50s, with low 50s in higher elevations and along the shore of Lake Ontario.
Clouds will increase for Monday, but temperatures will remain elevated. Many areas will make a run at 60 degrees on Monday.
A few showers will move in from the north Monday evening with a much better chance for rain on Tuesday. The clouds and rain will hold temperatures back some, but highs in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees are still likely.
Temperatures will fall back into the 40s on Wednesday with 30s possible on Thursday. Another weather system will move through on Thursday. Chances are high that we just see rain, but it is too early to totally discount the chance for snow.
A brief cool down is expected behind that system for Friday before temperatures bounce back up next weekend and beyond.
