Early Week Snow
A combination of moisture left behind by Sunday’s weather system and cold air moving in behind it will lead to the first snowy days for most of the Finger Lakes today and tomorrow.
As is often the case with snow in our area, location will be the most important factor since lake effect influences will be getting involved, leading to widely varying conditions.
Scattered snow showers moved into the area overnight and will continue off and on this morning. The chances for steadier, more widespread snow will increase over the western Finger Lakes and into Western New York.
The afternoon will have more of the same until some lake effect along the shore of Lake Ontario starts to get organized late in the day.
Most of the snow showers will put down nothing more than a light coating on grassy and elevated surfaces.
Winds will shift from the north through the morning hours to the northwest this afternoon. Wind speeds will be 10-15 mph with gusts staying under 30 mph.
It will, by far, be the coldest day so far this season, with highs in the low and mid 30s.
Temperatures will fall into the 20s throughout the region tonight as winds become better aligned not only with Lake Ontario but also Lake Huron.
Both of these lakes will send fingers of lake effect snow into the northern half of the region. The snow may be heavy at times but typically confined to narrow bands. With temperatures well below freezing, accumulation on the ground and roadways is likely.
Snow amounts will be highly variable, even across the northern half of the region. Isolated locations could see upward of 3-6 inches, but most areas will see more like 1-3 inches. Across the southern half of the region, a coating to locally an inch or two will be possible.
There is always a period of adjustment during the first snowy road conditions of the season, so give yourself, and others, extra time and grace on the roads tonight and Tuesday morning.
A combination of lake effect snow and wrap-around snow on the backside of the lingering low pressure will be likely on Tuesday, especially through the morning hours. A widespread inch or two with locally higher amounts will be added to what falls overnight.
Winds will also kick up on Tuesday, coming in from the west-northwest. Wind speeds will be as high as 20 mph with gusts as high as 40 mph.
The wind with the falling snow will reduce visibility and may cause some localized drifting of the snow. It will also make it feel like the upper 10s and low 20s for much of the day, with afternoon highs only reaching the mid and maybe upper 30s.
Winds will shift to the southwest Tuesday evening, removing any lake effect snow from the region. As some milder air tries to push in, a few additional snow showers may still be possible, though. Little to no additional accumulation is expected.
Staying Cool
A new weather system will pass through the area on Wednesday. Precipitation may start as some widespread snow Wednesday morning, but this should eventually mix with or change completely over to rain.
Most of the precipitation on Wednesday will be on the light side, and it will likely come and go throughout the day.
Winds will not be as strong as on Tuesday, remaining southwesterly throughout the day. Top gusts should be 25-30 mph. Afternoon highs will make it to near or just above 40 degrees for most areas.
Lingering scattered showers will be possible Thursday and maybe even on Friday. At least some of this will be lake effect, so the areas southeast of Lake Ontario will have the highest chance for rain showers. A few snowflakes may mix in during the nighttime hours and the bookends of the daytime hours.
Highs on Thursday will be in the low 40s, while Friday should see mid 40s. Winds will get a bit blustery again on Thursday with gusts around 35 mph.
A small area of high pressure will pass through later Friday and Saturday, keeping winds light and skies mainly precipitation free. Clouds, however, will probably still be plentiful with just a few opportunities for some brief clearing.
Saturday morning will start with lows mainly in the upper 20s, and afternoon highs will reach the low 40s.
The next system may move in by Sunday, accompanied by a brief jump in temperature to the 50s, so long as the low tracks overhead or to our west.
Temperatures will likely return to the 40s for most of next week. Precipitation chances are too uncertain to nail down at this time.
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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