A frontal boundary will move through the Finger Lakes during the daytime hours on Sunday. Low pressure will track north along the front once it is to our east, increasing precipitation over the east as colder air moves into the region.
Here is a breakdown of what to expect Sunday through Monday across the Finger Lakes:
All areas should see at least some rain during the daytime hours on Sunday. The rain will be showery in the morning, but may increase and become steady during the afternoon for eastern areas. This is most likely east of Bath in the Southern Tier and east of Seneca Lake further north. There is still a chance that much of the steady rain sets up just east of the Finger Lakes, however, leaving just showers in our area.
Either way, excessive rainfall is not expected in our immediate area with the heaviest rain totals staying to our east. Most places in the Finger Lakes will probably end up with well under an inch of rain, with close to an inch in the far eastern reaches of the region.
Temperatures will drop from the morning, when low 50s are likely, into the 40s during the afternoon. After sunset, temperatures will drop into the 30s. Low pressure will intensify and expand, pushing precipitation back into the eastern parts of the region, if it ever left, and changing most of it gradually over to snow. It may take some time for the snow to start to stick, but after midnight, many areas will be in the low 30s.
Again, the southeastern Finger Lakes will have the best shot for accumulating snowfall, and in those areas, higher elevations will see the greatest amounts. Locally 4-8 inches will be possible in the hilly terrain around Cortland County. Higher elevations, around and above 1200 feet, in Cayuga, Tompkins, Tioga, Chemung, and eastern Schuyler counties will see 2-4 inch snow amounts. Lower elevations will see less, and northern and western parts of the region will see little to no accumulation.
Elevation will play a large role in accumulation, and the actual snow amounts will likely vary quite a bit even over nearby locations. As I usually say, but particularly in this case, the snow map is meant for a general guide, but localized variations should be expected.
Areas of snow will continue into Monday morning. How far west this snow lingers, and how long it sticks around, are still uncertain as of writing this Saturday afternoon. As such, there will probably be some areas of slick travel weather Monday morning. Most main roads should be easily treatable with temperatures near or only slightly below freezing. The snow will be heavy and wet, so use due caution when shoveling.
Winds will pick up overnight Saturday night, from the south at 10-15 mph withe a few gusts over 30 mph at higher elevations. For much of Sunday and Sunday night, winds will be light as they turn from the south to the northwest. Winds will increase again on Monday, particularly in the afternoon, when speeds near 15 mph are likely with gusts of 30-40 mph.
Unless a major shift in the forecast takes place, this will be my final update until Monday morning. If I do post on Sunday, it will be between 1-4 PM. You can always check the latest forecast for your zip-code via the zip-code forecasts or on the app.
And don’t forget — there is now less than a week left in the calendar sale, which directly supports unscheduled updates, like this one, that are prompted by active weather. Your support is greatly appreciated, and I know you will absolutely love this high quality product for all 366 days (leap year!) of 2024.
