Flurries and Lake Effect
A series of weak weather systems will move through the Finger Lakes over the next few days, leading to on and off snow showers and a bit of lake effect.
A moisture-starved cold front is sliding through the area this morning. Few, if any, flurries currently accompany the front. A small response from Lake Ontario may produce a couple extra snow showers this morning, especially in the I-90 corridor.
For the most part, though, it will be dry this morning. The few areas that see snow will not see any accumulation.
By this afternoon, skies will turn sunny with light winds. High temperatures will be in the mid 30s.
The wind will turn to the south and increase tonight with top gusts in the 20-25 mph range. Clouds will also be on the increase, especially after midnight. Some mid 20s are possible in the eastern Southern Tier, with many areas around 30 degrees.
Another front will move through Wednesday morning. Snow showers should be more plentiful and some brief reductions in visibility will be possible. Accumulations should remain under an inch, though.
Wednesday afternoon, some lake effect snow will flare up. With snow both from Lake Ontario, and some connection to the Upper Great Lakes, these snow showers will be widespread throughout the area. Additional accumulations will locally be over an inch, but most areas should see just another coating.
Temperatures on Wednesday will peak in the late morning with highs in the mid 30s. The afternoon will be a few degrees cooler, with most areas in the low 30s.
Gusty west winds will also develop behind the front. Wind gusts of 30-40 mph will be common from the late morning through the mid afternoon. The wind will turn to the northwest and slowly diminish late in the afternoon and through Wednesday night.
The lake effect will become less widespread, but a couple narrow bands will persist into Thursday morning. Localized accumulations of an additional inch or so will be possible, along with brief periods of moderate snowfall.
Milder Late Week
Winds will swing back around to the south Thursday morning, taking the lake effect bands north of our area. Sunshine will have a narrow window during the mid to late morning before new clouds move in from the west.
These clouds will be associated with a warm front that will push in Thursday evening. Widespread but light evening snow is likely.
Temperatures will reach the low and mid 30s Thursday afternoon before dropping back to the upper 20s to near 30 in the evening. Overnight, most areas should rise back into the low 30s.
Friday will be mostly cloudy, but south winds will give temperatures a boost. Highs should reach the mid 40s for all but the higher elevations of Central New York.
Rain showers will move in on Christmas Eve Friday, but should mostly clear out by Christmas morning Saturday. Friday evening temperatures will be in the mid and upper 30s, but by Saturday morning, most will be back into the low 40s.
A few showers will remain possible on Saturday, but most of the day will be just cloudy. The winds are not looking as strong as they had been, but the forecast uncertainty is high due to differences in the evolution of the weather systems at play this weekend.
Additional rain, ending as a little snow, will be possible Saturday night into early Sunday. Clouds will stick around the rest of the day, but highs will still manage to be near 40 degrees.
Mild weather will stick around at least another day or two early next week, pending the track and evolution of another weather system. Temperatures do not look as though they are about to turn cold, though, with the same general pattern sticking around at least until the turn of the year.
More Information:
» Finger Lakes Weather Radar
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This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected. Stay Updated With Email Alerts
David
I like the scenic pictures but can more location identification be included? Maybe something like, “looking west near [some town, etc.]? I often find myself saying to myself how nice that picture is, I wonder where it is. Maybe the photographer could add a short note? Just a thought.