Breezy Friday increases brush fire risk

finger lakes weather forecast friday november 8 2024 the foreground features a vast, open meadow with rolling hills and a lone  decorative windmill. In the distance, the landscape is blanketed by forests of mostly bare trees with splotches of lingering fall color. The sky is dramatic, with billowing clouds lit by the golden glow of the sun getting lower in the sky.
Wind gusts over 30 mph are likely this afternoon ahead of a cold front that will knock highs back to the mid 40s Saturday, but will produce very little rain. [Photo by Melissa Burm, taken in Keuka Park]

Weekend Weather Forecast

An incoming cold front will kick up winds today but bring little in the way of precipitation.

This will continue a trend of minimal rainfall from weather systems over the last few weeks, which now has most of the area classified as “Abnormally Dry”, the first level of drought in the US Drought Monitor’s classification system.

Winds will increase through the morning and peak during the afternoon hours. West and northwest winds with speeds over 15 mph at times will also gust as high as 35 mph.

This will increase the brush fire risk as any fires will be able to spread quickly by the wind. Portions of the region have issued localized burn bans, but even those without a ban should use extreme caution today.

The front will also bring increasing clouds and a few spits of rain this afternoon. The northeastern quadrant of the Finger Lakes region has the best shot at seeing these showers, but they will have no impact on the overall dryness.

Temperatures will top out in the mid and locally upper 50s this afternoon. Behind the front this evening, temperatures will quickly drop through the 40s, ending up in the low 30s by Saturday morning. Localized cold pockets may slip into the upper 20s.

Skies will clear overnight, and winds will settle down. Saturday will end up mostly sunny, with winds continuing to weaken, finally becoming nearly calm in the afternoon. What wind there is will be from the north.

Temperatures will be knocked down by this front with highs Saturday only in the mid 40s. Evening temperatures will quickly fall back into the 30s and upper 20s.

However, a south wind will develop after midnight and some clouds will begin to build in. This will cause temperatures to level out or even rise a few degrees by Sunday morning.

Sunday will be rather cloudy, though some filtered sun will be possible early on. Southwest winds will boost temperatures back to the mid 50s.

*** BE SURE TO GO TO THE VERY BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR AN IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT THE ANNUAL CALENDAR SALE ***

finger lakes weather 7-day forecast fri nov 8 | fri, breezy a few showers mid 50 | sat, mostly sunny mid 40 | sun, early sun late showers mid 50 | mon, scattered showers upper 50 | tues, early clouds late sun mid 40 | wed, early sun late clouds near 50 | thur, rain showers near 50
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected. Click to enlarge.

Chances for Rain

Rain showers will begin to move in later Sunday afternoon, but the bulk of the rain from this next system will come Sunday night.

Once again, though, the rainfall amounts will not be anything particularly beneficial, with most areas staying well under a half inch and probably under a quarter inch.

Showers will persist into Monday, particularly in the morning and again by evening as a cold front moves through.

Monday will start on the mild side with lows in the mid 40s. Afternoon highs will be in the upper 50s.

Behind the front, Tuesday will start with some clouds early with increasing sun late. Highs will be knocked down to the mid 40s again.

Clear skies Tuesday night will lead to a cold night with many areas falling into the upper 20s. Wednesday will rebound to a high near 50 degrees. Sunshine early Wednesday will be replaced by clouds late.

Thursday looks showery at this point with at least a small chance for rain amounts near a half inch. However, it is early, and the trends have been for less rain, as has frequently been the case lately with the models 5-7 days ahead of a weather event.

Temperatures should remain seasonable late next week and into the weekend, though a slight bump in temperature is likely by next Sunday and the following Monday as the next system approaches.

finger lakes weather 7-day forecast fri nov 8 | fri, breezy a few showers mid 50 | sat, mostly sunny mid 40 | sun, early sun late showers mid 50 | mon, scattered showers upper 50 | tues, early clouds late sun mid 40 | wed, early sun late clouds near 50 | thur, rain showers near 50
This graphic represents an average over the entire Finger Lakes region. Localized variations should be expected.

2025 Calendar Update

Unfortunately, I am not able to offer a calendar for 2025. There were several factors that went into this decision, many of them beyond my control. Technological issues and high costs were among the chief reasons.

I know this is disappointing for you, as it is for me. I had high hopes for this year and had already put a lot of work into another great calendar. But, that will give me a head start on hopefully bringing the calendar back for 2026.

The calendar sales have paid for many of the expenses directly related to running FLX Weather over the last two years. This includes basics like web hosting and subscriptions to various aspects of the website, but also more specialized subscriptions like access to model data.

Without the calendar sales, 2025 remains unfunded. This will make it even more difficult for me to do my work producing the weather forecasts you rely on, especially during active and hazardous weather.

If you are able to make a one-time donation, or even better a monthly contribution, please consider doing so to secure the funding necessary for another year. Thank you for your consideration, generosity, and support.

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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.

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