Early Week Weather System
An area of low pressure will pass across Pennsylvania today, spreading rain and eventually snow across the Finger Lakes region.
Clouds are increasing early this morning across the area and a few rain showers are showing up on radar. Scattered showers will gradually increase and transition into some widespread rain during the late morning and early afternoon hours.
As this happens, winds will be light from the southeast out ahead of the low pressure system. Temperatures will rise to a high in the mid and even upper 40s.
During the afternoon, winds will turn to the northeast, then north. Combined with increasing precipitation, this will cause temperatures to steadily drop back into the 30s. This will cause the rain to turn over to snow from northwest to southeast, from higher elevations to lower elevations.
Many areas may see snow before sunset, but accumulations will be very limited and only on grassy or elevated surfaces. No snow is expected on the roadways.
The snow will continue for a couple of hours after sunset but will be letting up. By midnight, most, if not all, of the snow should be out of the area. A few lesser traveled roads may start to see some slight accumulation after sunset, but generally speaking, road conditions should remain in good shape.
Grassy and elevated surfaces may see an inch or two of accumulation. Some locally higher amounts over the hilltops will be possible, while urban and near-lake areas will probably see no more than a light dusting.
There is plenty of elevation-dependent, precipitation-type uncertainty in the forecast today, as has been the case much of the winter. However, with even the worst impacts remaining minimal, those variations and uncertainties do not weigh as heavily today as they have other times this winter.
Clouds will remain overnight and for much of Tuesday, though some occasional breaks of sun are expected here and there, especially in the afternoon. A few stray flurries or showers cannot be ruled out either, especially Tuesday morning.
Winds will remain light on Tuesday, coming in from the northwest at 5-10 mph. Afternoon highs will make it into the low and mid 40s.
Late Week, Weekend Weather
Wednesday will likely start out with some sun, but clouds will increase steadily through the day. Late in the afternoon and especially during the nighttime hours, a weak weather system will move in.
Rain showers will again mix with and turn to snow, but accumulations should be even harder to come by. Most areas should see no more than a light coating, and many probably will not even see that.
Highs on Wednesday will top out near or just above 50 degrees but will fall to the low 20s by Thursday morning. Thursday will be cooler, with highs struggling to reach 40 degrees. Skies will be a mix of sun and clouds and no precipitation is expected.
A strong storm system will develop over the middle of the nation for the end of the week, likely spreading severe thunderstorms through a large part of the Plains and Mississippi River Valley. As this system tracks into the Great Lakes, it will bring warmth and rain to the Finger Lakes.
Temperatures will steadily rise Friday and may not peak in the 50s until the evening hours. Rain showers will be possible throughout the day, but especially in the afternoon.
Saturday will be warmer yet, but just how warm is yet to be determined. In the 7-day forecast, I’ve set highs at a conservative 60 degrees, but there is a chance for it to be warmer.
Rain showers, and possibly thunderstorms, will be likely. Background winds will also be strong, possibly impressively so. Any thunderstorms that manage to form could lead to a damaging wind threat.
Obviously, this is still nearly a week away, so there is plenty of time for things to shift. Stay tuned.
Temperatures will take a dive as colder air moves in behind this system, with lows Sunday morning all the way down into the low and mid 20s. Highs on Sunday should make it back into the 40s with generally mild weather thereafter.
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
