Cold with some snow showers today and Saturday; A bit less cold next week

Cold temperatures will stick around through the weekend before rising a little early next week. The overall pattern, however, is not changing any time soon.

Friday

What: Cold, some lake snows

Where: Lake snows mainly to the far northeast during the day, coming a bit further south tonight

Impacts: Low

Cold temperatures and some breezy winds will keep wind chills below zero throughout today. The wind chill will continue to be locally hazardously low through the morning hours. Only a few areas will manage to reach 10 degrees. The wind will become lighter during the late afternoon and evening, making windchill a slightly less hazard tonight compared to this morning.

For a more detailed look at today’s weather, including when and where lake effect snow is expected, see the Friday Weather Planner »

Saturday

What: Some lake snows

Where: Wayne & Cayuga counites and nearby areas early. A bit further west and south later.

Impacts: Minor

Cold northwesterly flow will continue to produce some areas of light to moderate lake effect snow. During the morning hours, this should focus on Wayne and Cayuga counties and nearby areas. The lake effect will likely dissipate for a time in the afternoon, though a few flurries will remain possible. Snow should flare up again by evening, impacting much of the area but generally staying out of the Southern Tier. Cayuga Lake may have a brief period of time where winds are aligned for it to produce localized enhancements south-southeast of the lake.

Temperatures will start the day a couple degrees on either side of 0. Afternoon highs will be in the low and mid 10s.

Sunday

What: Cloudy, maybe a flurry

Impacts: None

Dry air will limit the production of lake effect snow on Sunday, though a few light flurries cannot be ruled out. Skies will be cloudy, though, with northwest winds over Lake Ontario. Winds may become a bit blustery as a nor’easter clips the New England coast, but mainly stays out to sea.

Temperatures will start out just above 0 and top out in the mid 10s.

Monday

What: Sun and clouds. 20º!

Impacts: None

Monday will be our first chance at reaching 20 degrees in over a week. It should be a quiet day with a mix of sun and clouds. Winds will be from the northwest early, then turning to the southwest. There is a small chance that temperatures may not quite make it to 20 degrees in some areas if the winds do not shift quick enough and skies remain cloudy.

Tuesday

What: Scattered snow showers

Impacts: Minimal/None

A weak weather system will start to move into the area on Tuesday. A few snow showers are likely, but with little if any accumulation or impact. Southwest winds will continue, pushing temperatures toward the mid 20s.

Wednesday

What: Scattered snow showers early

Impacts: Minimal/None

The cold front associated with Tuesday’s system will pass through during the morning hours with some continued snow showers. Temperatures are not currently expected to return to the 20 degree mark.

Thursday

What: Quiet weather?

Impacts: None

Thursday currently looks quiet, but low confidence. Depending on the wind direction and speed of the next weather system, some snow showers cannot be totally ruled out. Temperatures look like they will remain in the 10s.

Late Next Week & Beyond

Another weather system will come at us from the Upper Great Lakes late next week. This system may be able to produce a few inches of snow. Temperatures will take another dive behind this system, with a day like today possible late next weekend or early the following week.

Cold air is expected to remain locked in place for the foreseeable future. In fact, longer range models have been consistently showing continuous below average temperatures through the end of their forecast range, which currently goes into mid-March.

Whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow on Monday, it looks likely that we will have at least 6 more weeks of winter, if not more.

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