Final day of warmth before pattern change

finger lakes weather forecast friday october 23 2020 sunny warm cold front chilly pattern
With a dominating cold pattern on the way, today may be one of the last truly warm days for the Finger Lakes this season. [Photo by Debbie Curtis]

Overnight Cold Front

Temperatures have been on the rise since the overnight hours as south winds ahead of low pressure pick up.

This low is situated over Michigan this morning and will track northeast into Canada today into tonight.

Out ahead of this system, a warm day is in store for the Finger Lakes with plenty of sunshine.

There are a few patches of morning clouds scattered about, but these should dissipate and leave a mostly sunny afternoon. The south wind will gust to 25-30 mph throughout the day.

Temperatures should easily climb into the 70s today. The Rochester area will push into the upper 70s, while most of the rest of the region is in the mid 70s.

After sunset, temperatures will drop back into the low 60s with a few pockets of upper 50s after midnight.

The cold front associated with the low pressure will sweep across the region between 3-7 AM Saturday morning. Temperatures will drop about 15 degrees in 2-3 hours as mid and upper 40s overtake the region.

Showers and a brief downpour will accompany the front, but the rain should be out of the area before 9 AM. The rest of Saturday will be cloudy and cool.

Northwest winds will blow at around 10 mph, holding temperatures steady in the mid and upper 40s. Clearing skies Saturday night will lead to widespread 30s, though north winds will bring some slightly warmer air off Lake Ontario for areas such as Rochester, Geneva, and even Penn Yan. Lows here will be closer to or just above 40 degrees.

finger lakes weather 7-day forecast friday october 23 2020
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected. Click to enlarge.

Rain Followed by Cool Pattern

Sunday looks to be a quiet day as high pressure passes through. Skies will be sunny and winds will be light.

Temperatures will stay on the cool side, though. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees.

Clouds will increase Sunday evening and showers will begin to arrive after midnight. Monday looks like a rainy day with multiple waves of precipitation moving through. The rain looks especially heavy later Monday into very early Tuesday. Many areas should see over a half-inch, and amounts over an inch are possible.

Behind this system, temperatures will settle into a cool pattern. Daily highs will mostly be in the 40s or 50s through the end of October and into November.

Another weather system may move into the area later in the week, possibly bringing rain in for Halloween. This system remains uncertain at this point, though.

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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.