A powerful blast of Arctic air is sweeping through the Finger Lakes today, delivering a jarring return to winter just days into April. Snow showers, biting wind chills, and damaging gusts are expected to persist through the evening, with little relief in sight until next week.
Winter weather and wind advisories cover parts of the region, from Niagara Falls to the Southern Tier. The National Weather Service warns that wind gusts up to 50 mph could knock down tree limbs and cause isolated power outages. The entire region is locked into a Wind Advisory, which is in effect for gusts that could reach 50 mph at times today. Those will taper off as nightfall arrives, though.
Temperatures are running more than 20 degrees below normal. Highs will stay below freezing in most places today. Factoring in the wind, it will feel like single digits to teens throughout the day. Forecasters say today’s cold is the result of an unusually deep trough pushing frigid Canadian air across the Great Lakes, awakening snow squalls off Lakes Erie and Ontario.
Conditions will begin to ease Wednesday. High pressure will build in with lighter winds and partial sunshine. Still, temperatures will only rise into the upper 30s and low 40s, keeping the chill in place.
The pattern turns unsettled again starting late Wednesday night. Moisture from the Atlantic and weak frontal systems will bring a mix of snow and rain. Western New York could see light snow showers overnight, transitioning to rain by Thursday afternoon as slightly warmer air arrives. Rainfall amounts are expected to be modest—generally around one-tenth of an inch—but upsloping near the Tug Hill could enhance totals slightly.
By Friday, the Finger Lakes remains locked in a cool, wet pattern. A series of weak low-pressure waves are expected to ride along a larger trough setting up over the eastern U.S. While exact storm tracks are still uncertain, steady rain looks likely Friday into early Saturday, with temperatures slowly moderating. A few wet snowflakes may mix in at night, especially in higher elevations, but no significant accumulations are expected.
Forecasters expect conditions to gradually dry out from west to east late in the weekend. High pressure will return early next week, finally pushing temperatures closer to normal.
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