March is typically a month of variation where almost any type of weather is possible in the Finger Lakes. The month will start off with a significant warming trend that will steadily take hold over the course of this week. The only chance for some wintry precipitation will be on Tuesday as a warm front lifts into the area, spreading a mix of precipitation types into the area by midday.
Monday
What: Sunny, but still cool
A strong high pressure system is passing overhead today. This will keep winds light and skies mostly sunny. There are some thin clouds across the Southern Tier from a weather system moving through the Ohio Valley, but these are expected to be pushed further south over time today. Temperatures starting the morning cold and will reach a high averaging at around 30 degrees.
For more details on today’s weather, check out the Monday Weather Planner post from last evening.
Tuesday Early Morning Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse will take place during the early morning hours of Tuesday, making the moon appear red. The moon will begin appearing red around 5 AM with totality beginning around 6 AM. Moonset and sunrise will happen after 6:30 AM, so the viewing window will be short.
During this time, clouds will be on the increase from the south. Some of the clouds may remain thin enough to see some of the eclipse, but the further south, the less your chances are. The best chance for clear skies to remain will be north of I-90, but even that is an iffy proposition.
In summary, it will be worth checking in case the clouds are thin enough, but I wouldn’t get my hopes too high.
Tuesday Midday and Afternoon
What: A mix of rain, snow, and some pockets of ice.
Impacts: A few slick spots on untreated surfaces
Precipitation will move in from the south during the late morning and midday hours. Many areas will see rain showers from the start. However, higher elevations of the Southern Tier may see some freezing rain, while areas east of Cayuga Lake may see some snow. Any wintry precipitation should be minor and turn over to rain before too long. Still, some icy or snowy untreated surfaces will be possible, which could turn slick.
Afternoon highs will range from 35-40 degrees with steady but not strong south winds. Precipitation, by this time almost exclusively rain, will taper off and end during the evening hours.
Wednesday
What: A few clouds. Mild.
Another, weaker, high pressure system will pass overhead on Wednesday. This will bring another day of sunshine and light winds. A few sporadic clouds will be possible, especially early in the day. Temperatures will jump to the mid 40s for highs on average, but some valleys of the Southern Tier may push toward 50 degrees. Temperatures will stay around 40 degrees Wednesday night.
Thursday-Friday
What: Periods of rain, increasing temperatures
A weather system will impact our area Thursday and especially Friday with periods of rain and resulting in warming temperatures.
Thursday is more likely to just have some sporadic rain showers later in the day. Steadier rain is likely Thursday night and Friday morning, with occasional showers lingering through the afternoon. There is still a large range in possible rain amounts, but between a half inch and an inch seems most likely.
Temperatures will continue to climb with upper 40s Thursday and mid 50s Friday. Nighttime temperatures will drop very little from the daytime highs.
Weekend
The weather models have been very consistent showing a surge of warm weather for the weekend, though there is still a broad range in exactly how warm it may get. Saturday is the more likely day to see temperatures push well into the 60s. However, highs either in the 50s… or 70s… are also still possibilities. Rain showers are likely at some point during the day.
Sunday will probably have less rain than Saturday, but will also be a bit less warm. Still, highs in the 50s are likely.
Next Week
Warm weather is expected to persist at least for the first half of next week. Confidence remains low about exactly how warm and which days will be the warmest. As is often the case in March, the warm surges will be accompanied by a razor sharp temperature gradient to much cooler air. Eventually next week, this will likely pass through with a rapid drop in temperature. Right now, this looks most likely in the Thursday/Friday timeframe next week.
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