Mid-Week Weather Forecast
The weather pattern over northeastern North America has changed little over the last few days.
A large area of low pressure has brought persistent northwest winds to the Finger Lakes while occasionally throwing areas of enhanced atmospheric energy through the region, resulting in batches of showers.
Today will be more of the same with another disturbance expected to arrive late this afternoon and this evening.
Until then, skies will be a mix of sun and clouds with just a small chance for a stray spit of rain. Northwest winds will be similar to the previous days with speeds around 10 mph and gusts to 25 mph.
Temperatures will continue to retreat with only a few urban and valley locations managing to hit 60 degrees today. Most areas will be in the upper 50s, with mid 50s across higher elevations.
Rain will increase in the late afternoon from northwest to southeast. There may even be a few rumbles of thunder, especially near Lake Ontario.
The widespread showers will transition over to areas of lake effect showers during the overnight with winds turning more northerly.
The clouds and showers will prop temperatures up a bit overnight with low 40s across the northern and central Finger Lakes. Across the western Southern Tier, where lake effect clouds and showers are less likely, widespread mid 30s with some areas of frost are likely.
A few areas of frost may also be possible in and around Cortland County, but the likelihood of clouds should keep the risk low, even if some areas manage to dip into the mid 30s, too.
Thursday will be a cloudy day with only a small chance for some clearing right at sunset. Lake effect showers will be possible in the morning but will dissipate by midday. Northwest winds will once again blow with similar speeds to the rest of the week.
Thursday will have the coolest temperatures, both in terms of afternoon highs and nighttime lows.
The warmest valleys and urban centers on Thursday will just manage to climb to or above 55 degrees. Low 50s will be more widespread, and some higher elevations, especially in the east, may not escape the 40s.
After sunset, skies will quickly clear, allowing temperatures to fall almost freely. Winds will shift to the southwest, which may slow the fall slightly, especially after midnight. I expect widespread 30s by Friday morning with a few colder pockets likely sneaking near or below freezing.
Only the immediate shores of Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, and especially Lake Ontario will have a shot at staying at or above 40 degrees.
Weekend Weather
Clear skies will persist throughout Friday, giving us a bright, sun-filled day.
The subtle southwest wind will persist, helping temperatures rebound from the chilly start. Many places will see a gain of 30 degrees or more by the afternoon with highs ranging through the 60s.
Winds will increase and turn a bit more westerly Friday night as a cold front approaches. This will also lead to an increase in clouds and perhaps a few predawn showers.
It will be a much warmer night. In fact, some areas may stay warmer Friday night than they get all day Thursday with lows ranging from the upper 40s to the mid 50s.
The chance for a few showers will linger through Saturday morning, but most areas will see little to no rainfall. Some sunshine will work out for the afternoon, but thin clouds will already be building in ahead of the next weather maker.
Temperatures on Saturday will average in the low 60s, with some higher elevations sticking to the upper 50s while the valleys of the Southern Tier reach the mid 60s.
How cold Sunday morning starts off will depend on the speed with which this next system moves in. Currently, lows are expected to be somewhere around 40 degrees.
Rain will move in Sunday morning and possibly persist for much of the day. However, not all areas will necessarily see the same amount or duration of rain, but the details are too fuzzy at this point to pinpoint.
Regardless, temperatures will likely take a step back into the 50s again on Sunday, followed by another shot of chilly air for the first half of next week. Temperatures may again struggle to get far into the 50s, if at all, and overnight lows will be down into the 30s.
The weather will remain unsettled as well, with clouds and lake enhanced showers likely.
Late next week, there are signs of warmer temperatures returning, though at this time of the year, that only means highs in the 60s.
More Information:
» Finger Lakes Weather Radar
» Zip Code Forecasts
» Get the FLX Weather Mobile App
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected.
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