Snow Report: Monday, March 23, 2020

finger lakes weather snow report monday march 23 2020
A light, late-season snow will move into the Finger Lakes with only minor impacts expected.


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WHAT

A weak area of low pressure will ride into the dome of cold, dry air currently over the Finger Lakes. At first, precipitation will not reach the ground due to the dry atmosphere. Over time early Monday morning, the atmosphere will moisten, a process that will help temperatures remain cold enough for snow.

Light snow will gradually increase over the Finger Lakes through Monday morning as a result. Precipitation will continue through the afternoon, mixing with and turning to rain over lower elevations. By the late afternoon, only the highest of elevations in the Finger Lakes will remain snow.

A second low will phase with the first low off the coast of New England, but this will happen too far east for any direct impacts on the region outside of perhaps a small amount of extra precipitation along and east of I-81.
Precipitation will quickly end from west to east Monday evening.

ALERTS ACTIVE

The following weather alerts are active in the Finger Lakes Weather forecast area:

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect for the following county:
Cortland (primarily for higher elevations).

WHEN

An initial band of precipitation is expected between 3-6 AM Monday morning. Much of this will evaporate before reaching the ground.

Snow will then gradually increase across the region between 6 AM and Noon. Rain will begin to take over, first near the literal Finger Lakes, and then at increasingly higher elevations through the afternoon. A few higher elevations east of Owasco Lake may remain all snow.

Only spits of drizzle are expected after 9 PM.

finger lakes weather snow map monday march 23 2020
Click to enlarge.

HOW MUCH

Most of the Finger Lakes will see around or less than an inch of slushy snow. Higher elevations may see as high as two inches.

The greatest amounts will be in the hilltops of southeastern Cayuga, northern Cortland, and southern Onondaga counties, where over 2 inches may be possible.

TEMPERATURES

Temperatures will be in the low 30s through the mid-morning hours. After that, lower elevations will start to warm into the mid 30s.

During the afternoon, lower elevations will rise to the upper 30s with a few locations even reaching 40 degrees. Higher elevations will slowly rise to the mid 30s.

TRAVEL IMPACTS

Most roadways will not be impacted by the snow due to the relatively mild temperatures.

Rural roads in the higher elevations may see a light coating of slushy snow.

OTHER IMPACTS

Southeast winds will gust between 35-45 mph during the morning hours before diminishing for the afternoon.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE

Medium- While unlikely and not expected, some model projections keep temperatures slightly colder, and thus have greater snow amounts. However, these models have a known bias towards too-cold temperatures in similar situations. Still, the possibility remains enough to warrant a “medium” confidence rating instead of a “high” confidence rating.

FUTURE SNOW OUTLOOK

Another light, primarily higher elevation snow event is possible Wednesday, particularly across the southern half of the Finger Lakes region.

Long-lasting, significantly warm weather is not expected for the next several weeks, so additional late-season snow events will remain possible, though the pattern does not look favorable for large-scale, significant snows.

FUTURE UPDATES

  • Regular Monday morning blog post (Between 7-8 AM Monday)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Follow Meteorologist Drew Montreuil:
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil has been forecasting the weather in the Finger Lakes region since 2006 and has degrees in meteorology from SUNY Oswego (B.S. with Honors) and Cornell (M.S.). Drew and his wife have four young boys. When not working or playing with the boys, he is probably out for a run through the countryside.