Behind the Cold Front
A cold front moved south through the Finger Lakes last night.
In the wake of this front, high pressure centered north of the Upper Great Lakes is building into the area. North winds ahead of the high pressure continue to push colder air into the region.
Morning cloudiness will gradually burn off, leaving mostly sunny skies this afternoon.
North winds will blow at or slightly above 10 mph with gusts of 25-30 mph. As a result, afternoon highs will be in the upper 40s and low 50s with a few mid 50s in urban areas and the broad valleys of the Southern Tier.
Tonight, skies will remain clear, and winds will become calm. With a dry atmosphere, everything will be set for rapid and significant cooling. Temperatures will quickly fall into the 30s this evening with upper 20s and low 30s for overnight lows.
Only the most protected lakeshore areas will stick to the mid 30s, leading to widespread frost and freeze conditions. Cold-sensitive plants will be damaged or killed if not protected.
A very slight south wind may pick up during the predawn hours, which may elevate temperatures a degree or two over what they would be without that wind. The wind will increase to around 5 mph after sunrise and remain steady throughout Thursday.
While light, the south wind will cut off the supply of cold air and team up with a day of sunny skies. High temperatures will jump to the mid 60s, a rise of around 35 degrees over the morning low.
The wind will increase after sunset with speeds of 10-15 mph throughout Thursday night. Warmer air will move in, keeping nighttime temperatures in the 40s.
Some Weekend Rain
Friday will continue to be on the blustery side with south winds up to 15 mph. Skies will be a mix of sun and clouds, but sunshine will be more likely early on with an increase in clouds for the afternoon.
Temperatures will be warm with highs ranging through the 70s. The Rochester area could even make a run at 80 degrees. Meanwhile, some higher elevations of Central New York may only be around 70 degrees.
Friday night will also be mild with south winds continuing. Overnight lows will range from around 50 degrees in Cortland and Tioga counties, to the mid 50s near the lakes and across the I-90 region.
Clouds will be plentiful on Saturday, but a glimpse of morning sun cannot be totally ruled out. Rain showers will build in from the west during the afternoon, possibly holding off until the late afternoon for eastern areas. The timing and evolution of the rain will continue to be nailed down in the coming days.
The rain will last a few hours with modest amounts generally under a half-inch. This will likely be the only rain our region receives until late next week or the following weekend.
Before the rain arrives, temperatures will make it into the mid and upper 60s. Nighttime temperatures will fall back to the mid 40s.
Sunday will be a bit counterintuitive, with warmer air briefly moving in with highs in the low 70s. Winds will be from the northwest, but will be traced back to the Midwest, so cold air will be lacking. Skies will be a mix of sun and clouds.
North winds will blow on Monday and cold air will return. Highs on Monday will struggle to reach 60 degrees despite mostly sunny skies. Some patchy frost could be possible again Monday night, but it should not be as widespread or significant as tonight.
Dry, sunny weather is likely for most of next week with temperatures working their way back into the 70s. A few thunderstorms may be possible late in the week with more unsettled weather possible as we head into the final days of May.
More Information:
» Finger Lakes Weather Radar
» Zip Code Forecasts
» Get the FLX Weather Mobile App
Get the latest forecasts delivered to your inbox automatically. This is the best way to ensure you are always seeing the newest information. Subscribing is easy, free, and secure. 
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected. Stay Updated With Email Alerts
