Winter Weather Advisory
A clashing of air masses will bring some wintry weather to the area today.
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Warm air rising through the Ohio River Valley is meeting with colder air trying to move south from eastern Canada, giving rise to a stalled out frontal boundary over our region. Low pressure moving along this front will give the atmosphere some extra energy to produce waves of precipitation.
One such wave is beginning to move into the Finger Lakes early this morning. Much of this is falling as snow, but pockets of freezing rain or sleet will be possible.
This precipitation will become widespread and steady through the morning and will continue into the afternoon. Snow will become the dominant precipitation type for most of the day.
Temperatures will rise to the 32-35 degree range for most areas, reducing the chances for any significant travel troubles during the daytime hours. Most roads will just be wet, but a few higher elevation and rural roads may get a light coating of snow, particularly late in the afternoon.
Off the roads, an inch or two of snow accumulation will be possible throughout the day. Winds will be nearly calm today with the front overhead.
Snow will continue into the evening hours but will become more sporadic as it begins to turn over to rain and freezing rain. A few pockets of icy precipitation may linger into the morning hours on Wednesday.
Temperatures will be right around the freezing mark tonight, so even a degree shift in either direction could lead to fewer or more areas seeing ice. The best chance for a glaze of ice from freezing rain will be across the higher elevations, above 1200 feet, of the southern half of the region.
Travel conditions overnight and for the Wednesday morning commute will be mixed. Many areas will be just fine, but those colder pockets will turn slick if left untreated. If your commute takes you along rural routes in the southern half of the region at moderate to higher elevations, allow for extra time.
Mild Temperatures, For a Time
Temperatures will rise into the low and mid 40s by Wednesday afternoon, ending any chances for wintry weather. However, another batch of widespread precipitation is expected to move into the area during the mid to late afternoon.
Steady rain will then fall into the evening hours, tapering off in hours leading up to midnight. Temperatures will not drop much overnight, only reaching the upper 30s for most areas.
Thursday looks dry to start, but more rain will be possible during the afternoon hours. There is still some uncertainty regarding the position of this area of rain and how much it will impact the Finger Lakes. Southern areas are more likely to see steady rain than southern areas.
Temperatures on Thursday should push into the mid 40s during the afternoon, with overnight lows mainly staying above 40 degrees.
Friday mostly looks quiet, with just a few showers, mainly in the morning. Some breaks of sun may even be possible in the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid and upper 40s, though a few places may make a run at 50 degrees.
Temperatures will reverse course for the weekend, with highs retreating to the low 40s on Saturday and mid 30s on Sunday.
An area of low pressure will pass through, possibly bringing some rain as early as late Saturday. There will be a chance for mixed precipitation or snow Sunday into Sunday night.
Some models are showing moderate to heavy snow accumulations with this system, but uncertainty remains very high. I, of course, will continue to monitor the situation closely and will bring no-hype updates you can trust.
Temperatures will remain in the 30s for a couple of days behind this system, but warmer air is likely by the end of next week.
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.
