A blast of crisp, fall-like air is pushing into the Finger Lakes early Monday, setting up a rare July cooldown before intense summer heat returns later in the week.
A secondary cold front is moving through the region, bringing patchy fog, low clouds, and scattered sprinkles. Behind it, cooler Canadian air will settle in for the day. The National Weather Service in Buffalo says highs this afternoon will run 5 to 10 degrees below normal, making for what it calls “a superb weather day for outdoor activities.”
Tuesday remains pleasant and dry, with highs climbing into the upper 70s under sunny skies. The warming trend accelerates Wednesday, when temperatures are expected to reach the upper 80s and humidity begins to creep higher.
“Summer’s heat and humidity makes a strong return in the second half of the week,” the NWS said. On Thursday, highs could spike into the mid-90s, with dewpoints around 70°F pushing the heat index into the low 100s. That may trigger heat advisories for parts of the region stretching from the Niagara Frontier to Oswego County.
Isolated thunderstorms may pop up Thursday afternoon, but the main threat for showers and storms arrives Friday. Forecasters expect a cold front to collide with the hot, muggy air mass, bringing a 60% chance of rain and the potential for locally heavy downpours.
The front is likely to stall just south of the area into the weekend, keeping scattered storms in the forecast Saturday and Sunday. Highs will remain in the 80s, with sticky conditions lingering even as humidity levels dip slightly.
Early Monday, beach hazards and small craft advisories remain in effect for the southeastern shores of Lake Ontario, where gusty north winds and choppy waves continue. Conditions are expected to improve by midday as high pressure builds in from the north.
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