30 Aug 2024

Labor Day Weekend Weather Forecast

by | posted in: Forecast | 3
finger lakes weather forecast friday august 30 2024 cloudy skies at sunset with shades of blue, purple, gold, orange, and yellow in the clouds. A farm field in the background with a row of pine trees at its edge with a lawn in the foreground.
Each day this holiday weekend will have a different feel as a varied and at times active weather pattern sets up. [Photo by Wendy Montreuil]

Friday’s Weather

The next four days, encompassing the Labor Day Weekend, will each have a different feel as an active and changeable weather pattern sets up.

Friday will be a mainly quiet day for precipitation, but the weather will vary a fair bit from one corner of the region to the other.

Cloudy skies through the morning will gradually give way to some sunshine over the northwestern portions of the region this afternoon. Further east, the clouds will be harder to dislodge, and many areas east of Cayuga Lake may not see any sunshine at all today.

South and southeast winds will be breezy with gusts to 25 mph. These winds favor warmer temperatures to the northwest and cooler temperatures to the southeast.

The combination of sunshine and the wind patterns will push temperatures in and around Rochester and the Genesee Valley into the low, even mid 80s this afternoon. However, Cortland County and surrounding higher elevations will struggle to even manage the low 70s.

Humidity has crept back into the region as well, with dewpoints today ranging through the 60s.

Saturday’s Weather

A few showers and storms will be possible during the predawn hours overnight with lows only making it into the mid and upper 60s for most areas. A few of these showers will persist after sunrise, but most of Saturday morning will be dry.

New showers and storms will fire up during the early and mid afternoon hours, likely developing right over the Finger Lakes. As such, the chances for thunderstorms will increase the further south and east you are.

A few storms could become severe, with damaging winds the primary threat. I am not expecting a large scale severe weather event, though. Locally heavy downpours will also be a minor concern.

Showers and storms may linger over the Southern Tier and Central NY until sunset, but most of the nighttime hours should be quiet.

Saturday will also be on the breezy side with southerly winds. Temperatures will top out in the mid and upper 70s with a few places hitting 80 degrees.

It will be very humid with dewpoints up around 70 degrees.

Sunday’s Weather

If you are looking for summery, outdoor worthy weather, Sunday is likely the day you will want to target.

Skies will be a mix of sun and clouds, and outside of a few late showers, the day will be dry. The best chance for those showers will be after 4 PM and mainly across the northern and western halves of the region.

Dewpoints will retreat during the day, starting off in the 60s but ending up in the 50s at times. Afternoon highs will be around 80 degrees.

Southwest winds will turn to the northwest late. As the wind shift occurs, the wind may kick up for an hour or two before settling back down after sunset.

Temperatures Sunday night will be in the 50-55 degree range with a few colder pockets in the western Southern Tier and in Cortland County.

finger lakes weather 7-day forecast fri aug 30 | fri, mostly cloudy mid 70 | sat, scattered showers, storms upper 70 | sun, a few late showers near 80 | mon, sunny, a few clouds mid 60 | tues, sunny, a few clouds near 70 | wed, mostly sunny mid 70 | thur, sunny, a few clouds upper 70
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected. Click to enlarge.

Monday’s Weather

Labor Day itself will be dry with lots of sunshine and just some sporadic clouds.

However, it will be a breezy, cool day.

Northwest winds with speeds at or above 10 mph will gust between 25-30 mph, ushering in a cool, dry air mass.

Dewpoints will be well into the 40s, so there will be no humidity to feel. Afternoon highs will only be in the mid and upper 60s.

Clear skies and calming winds Monday night will send temperatures into the 40s for most areas by Tuesday morning.

A dry, quiet week is expected as the school year begins. Temperatures will moderate, warming through the 70s during the week.

Rain will become possible again by next weekend.

More Information:

» Finger Lakes Weather Radar

» Finger Lakes Weather Radar

» Zip Code Forecasts

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finger lakes weather 7-day forecast fri aug 30 | fri, mostly cloudy mid 70 | sat, scattered showers, storms upper 70 | sun, a few late showers near 80 | mon, sunny, a few clouds mid 60 | tues, sunny, a few clouds near 70 | wed, mostly sunny mid 70 | thur, sunny, a few clouds upper 70
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected.

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Follow Meteorologist Drew Montreuil:
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil has been forecasting the weather in the Finger Lakes region since 2006 and has degrees in meteorology from SUNY Oswego (B.S. with Honors) and Cornell (M.S.). Drew and his wife have four young boys. When not working or playing with the boys, he is probably out for a run through the countryside.

3 Responses

  1. Kathryn Tunison
    |

    Hi Drew…..what are the chances of a wedding that’s supposed to take place on a sailboat on Seneca Lake on Saturday actually being able to happen?

    • Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
      |

      Depends on the time and location? If it is late morning or midday, there is a decent chance… though the waters may be a bit choppy, especially toward the north end of the lake.

  2. CDR John Gregoire, USN (ret).
    |

    I’d love to see everyone’s rain tota;s. We are at 6.45 for the month to date.