Blowing Snow and Lake Effect
Blustery northwest winds will persist over the Finger Lakes region today.
Scattered lake effect snow showers and a few heavier bursts are also continuing early this morning. Localized snow amounts of an inch or two are possible before the lake effect winds down late this morning.
The wind will gust between 25-35 mph through the morning hours. The strongest winds will be over the southeastern quadrant of the Finger Lakes.
Blowing and drifting snow are likely in the open, rural areas in the typically prone areas. Be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions if traveling today.
High pressure will nose in this afternoon, helping to end the lake effect and reduce the winds. As the high passes overhead, there will be a period of light to calm winds from about 4 PM into the late evening.
Some breaks of sun will try to work through the clouds before the sun goes down, with mostly clear skies early this evening.
Temperatures will mostly be in the low and mid 20s this afternoon, with a few upper teens in higher elevations. The clear skies, light winds, and fresh snowpack will help temperatures drop quickly this evening. Topography will play a large role in how cold it gets, with some areas getting all the way down to near zero, while typically warmer areas stay in the teens.
By midnight, clouds will be moving back in, and winds will pick up, this time from the south. Gusts will quickly climb to over 30 mph in higher elevations and 25-30 mph in lower elevations.
Temperatures will quickly climb as well. By dawn, the Rochester area should be in the mid 30s, while even the coldest pockets of Central New York should be into the mid 20s.
Gusty south winds will continue throughout Wednesday, propelling temperatures in the upper 30s and low 40s. The warmer temperatures and partially melting snow should reduce the amount of blow and drifting snow that occurs.
Deep Cold Settles In
Much of Wednesday will be cloudy but dry until a cold front approaches in the evening. A few rain showers will be possible early on before everything turns to snow showers overnight. This snow will not be heavy with little to no accumulation expected.
Thursday will have limited lake effect southeast of Lake Ontario. Some places may see an inch or two, but most of the area will be free of any significant accumulation.
Temperatures will start Thursday in the mid teens. During the day, the temperature will bounce around a bit, but generally will stick to the mid teens. Northwest winds will not be as strong, but may still gust to 25 mph on occasion.
A few lake flakes will persist into Friday morning. The areas that do not see insulation from the lake effect clouds are likely to start Friday below zero. Winds will be light, so wind chill should not be a significant hazard.
The cold air looks as though it will be here to stay for a while. High temperatures on Friday will struggle into the low teens, but nighttime temperatures will again drop below zero. Saturday morning looks a bit colder than Friday morning with fewer lake effect clouds.
Another winter storm is expected to develop along the East Coast Friday into Saturday. This storm will most likely pass well to our southeast, instead threatening the big cities with significant snow. There is a small chance the system comes further northwest, so I will, of course, continue to monitor the situation.
At this time, though, Saturday is just looking partly cloudy and cold, with temperatures once again sticking to the teens.
Behind the coastal storm, our winds will turn to the northwest and lead to lake effect on Sunday and Monday. This lake effect has the potential to be better organized, so that will be another thing to keep an eye on.
Temperatures will moderate some, but overnight lows will continue to flirt with the subzero regions Sunday and Monday morning. Daytime highs should break into the low 20s, though.
No significant pattern change is expected next week, either, with another cold front sometime in the vicinity of Tuesday that will send temperatures down again for the middle and end of next week.
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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
Patrick House
When you refer to different areas of the fingerlakes. Like northern , Southern etc what do you consider the Penn Yan end of Chubb Hollow rd. in Yates County?
You do a fantastic job with your forecast!!
Susan Sarabasha
And another 5 inches up here on Tupper Rd Hill overnight.