A prolonged stretch of dangerous winter weather will continue across the Finger Lakes and Central New York through the remainder of the week, with lake-effect snow, bitter cold, and periods of blowing snow creating difficult travel conditions before an arctic air mass settles in for the weekend.
The National Weather Service says the most intense impacts remain focused north and west of the Finger Lakes, but several rounds of snow, gusty winds, and sub-zero wind chills will affect much of the region through Friday, followed by a frigid weekend with only limited chances for additional snowfall.
Active weather alerts across the region
Multiple weather advisories and warnings remain in effect Tuesday, with impacts extending into Wednesday and beyond:
Winter Weather Advisory (through 10 p.m. Tuesday): Monroe, Livingston, and Ontario counties, including Rochester, Geneseo, and Canandaigua, may see an additional 2 to 4 inches of lake-effect snow in narrow bands, along with wind gusts up to 35 mph causing blowing snow and reduced visibility.
Winter Weather Advisory (through 1 a.m. Wednesday): Northern Oneida County could receive up to 3 inches of additional snow if Lake Ontario bands shift south, with sharp snowfall gradients possible over short distances.
Cold Weather Advisory (through Tuesday morning): Much of the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier, including Yates, Schuyler, Steuben, Chemung, and surrounding counties, experienced wind chills as low as 15 below zero early Tuesday, with frostbite possible in as little as 30 minutes.
Farther north and west, Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect through Wednesday for areas east of Lakes Erie and Ontario, where snowfall totals of 2 to 4 feet are possible in the most persistent lake-effect bands, along with near-whiteout conditions and isolated power outages.
Timeline: How the weather unfolds through Friday
Tuesday into Tuesday night: Lake-effect snow bands continue east of Lakes Erie and Ontario, with only minor accumulations expected in the Finger Lakes and Central New York. Most locations south of I-90 will see dustings to around an inch, while far northern Oneida County could receive 1 to 3 inches if bands wobble south. Gusty west winds will keep wind chills near or below zero.
Wednesday: A weakening clipper system moves through the Great Lakes, bringing a period of more widespread snow. Light accumulations are expected across much of Central New York, generally under an inch, with higher totals possible in Oneida and Steuben counties. Winds increase behind a cold front, and lake-effect snow redevelops late in the day.
Thursday: Colder air pours back into the region. Snow showers persist, especially north of the Finger Lakes and near Lake Ontario. Accumulations remain minor for most areas, but localized lake-effect bands could briefly reduce visibility.
Friday: An arctic cold front crosses the region, bringing scattered snow showers or brief squalls and increasing winds. Temperatures fall sharply by Friday night as high pressure builds in, setting the stage for extreme cold.
Weekend outlook: Arctic air takes over
High pressure dominates the Northeast this weekend, locking in one of the coldest air masses of the season. Daytime highs on Saturday are expected to struggle to reach the single digits, with overnight lows dropping below zero across much of the Finger Lakes and Central New York. In northern areas, temperatures could fall as low as 20 below zero.
A winter storm is forecast to track well south of the region on Sunday, and current guidance suggests the strongest high pressure will keep heavy snow out of Central New York. However, forecasters say light to moderate snow remains possible in northeastern Pennsylvania and potentially the Southern Tier, depending on how far north moisture is able to spread.
Despite limited snowfall potential, dangerous cold will remain the primary concern through the weekend, with additional cold weather advisories or warnings likely as wind chills plunge well below zero.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].