A couple minor weather disturbances this week

finger lakes weather forecast monday december 20 2021 sun clouds flurries christmas weather
Any minor snow accumulations this week will be lost as warmer air and wind move in for Christmas Eve and Christmas. [Photo by Gwen Moshier]

Early Week Weather

An active jet stream across the northern United States will bring a couple of weak disturbances through the Finger Lakes over the next several days.

For today, only some occasional thin clouds are expected across the area. These clouds will vary in their ability to filter the sunshine and will be most plentiful across the northern half of the region.

Accompanying the partly to mostly sunny skies will be a south-southwest wind that will blow at up to 10 mph. These two factors will team up to give temperatures a boost after a chilly Sunday and cold start to today.

Expect highs to push into the upper 30s to around 40 degrees for most of the area. A few higher elevations, especially in Central New York, will stick to the mid 30s.

Southwest winds will continue tonight as clouds increase and thicken. Evening and overnight temperatures will range from the mid 30s near Lake Ontario to the mid 20s in portions of the Southern Tier.

A few morning flurries will be possible Tuesday as a small front moves through. Winds will turn first to the west, then north, and finally end the day weakly from the east.

Morning clouds will give way to afternoon sunshine, though a deck of thin clouds may move in from the south for a brief visit late in the day. Highs on Tuesday will be in the mid 30s region wide.

Another front will come through on Wednesday with a little more activity. On and off snow showers are likely, but with light accumulations and little impact on travel.

Wednesday’s winds will start from the south but will turn to the west-northwest for the afternoon. The afternoon winds will become blustery, with speeds around 15 mph and gusts around 35 mph. Temperatures will be at or above 35 degrees by midday, but will lose a couple degrees during the afternoon.

finger lakes weather 7-day forecast monday december 20 2021
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected. Click to enlarge.

Weather Through Christmas

A little lake effect snow will be possible Wednesday night into early Thursday south of Lake Ontario. This may lead to some localized light accumulations, but most areas will miss out.

Otherwise, Thursday will be rather cloudy. Highs will again be in the mid 30s. Winds will be much lighter than on Wednesday afternoon and will come from the south.

Another system will move through Thursday night with just a few stray flurries. South winds and clouds will be plentiful on Friday with some late rain showers possible.

High temperatures on Friday, Christmas Eve, will reach the low and mid 40s. Any small bits of snow that accumulate during the week will likely be lost, ensuring that it will not be a White Christmas this year.

The wind will also pick up after sunset, with gusts to 30 mph through the night. Showers will continue as well, lingering into Christmas morning.

A cold front will move through sometime Saturday morning as well. Temperatures early on may be in the low 40s. After an initial drop behind the front, temperatures may get that warm again early in the afternoon.

It will also be windy on Christmas with gusts of 35-45 mph. The strongest winds will be over the western half of the Finger Lakes region with a west-southwesterly direction.

Cold air and snow will continue to be lacking as we close out December and 2021. Much of next week looks like this week with highs well into the 30s and a few chances for rain and minor snow, but no major imposition by Winter.

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finger lakes weather 7-day forecast monday december 20 2021
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected.

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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.