The worst of the arctic blast is beginning to loosen its grip, but dangerous cold and lingering lake effect snow are still impacting the Finger Lakes and Central New York early Sunday.
For Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Schuyler, Wayne, Yates, Monroe, and Onondaga counties, winter weather advisories and cold-related headlines remain in effect through at least midday, with a gradual moderation expected as the new week begins.
Lake effect snow continues south of Lake Ontario
Northwest flow over Lake Ontario is still producing lake effect snow bands south of the lake this morning.
Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect into early afternoon for:
- Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Ontario, and Oswego counties, where an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow is possible.
- Seneca, southern Cayuga, Onondaga, Tompkins, and Cortland counties, where narrow lake effect bands produced up to a couple more inches before tapering.
Snow intensity has generally weakened compared to Friday and Saturday, with smaller flakes and lighter radar returns reported. Still, slick roads, especially on bridges and overpasses, remain a concern. Conditions can vary dramatically over short distances within lake effect bands.
Snow showers will gradually contract toward the southern Lake Ontario shoreline this afternoon and diminish overnight as high pressure builds in.
Extreme cold warning transitions to cold weather advisory
Dangerous cold remains the top concern this morning.
Extreme Cold Warnings continue into early afternoon across parts of Central New York, including Yates, Seneca, Onondaga, southern Cayuga, Schuyler, and surrounding counties. Wind chills early Sunday have ranged from 15 below to as cold as 35 below zero in exposed and higher-elevation areas.
By afternoon, warnings transition to Cold Weather Advisories lasting into Monday morning. Even as winds gradually ease, wind chills will remain in the 10 below to 20 below zero range at times.
Temperatures today will struggle to climb out of the single digits in many locations. While winds are expected to diminish compared to Saturday, enough of a breeze will remain to keep wind chills dangerously low through the morning.
Clearer skies and lighter winds tonight could allow temperatures to drop sharply again before sunrise Monday, especially over fresh snowpack. Some additional cold headlines may be needed if readings fall lower than forecast.
Gradual moderation begins Monday
Relief from the deep arctic air begins Monday afternoon.
High pressure overhead will bring calmer conditions and more sunshine, though morning temperatures will still be bitterly cold. By afternoon, readings should inch upward, marking the start of a slow warming trend.
By Tuesday, some areas — particularly along and south of the New York State Thruway corridor — may finally see temperatures climb to or slightly above freezing for the first time in more than two weeks.
Weak system brings light snow and possible mix Tuesday
A weak clipper system is expected to track through the region Tuesday morning.
Current projections suggest:
- A band of light snow developing across the Finger Lakes and moving east along the Thruway corridor.
- Minor accumulations, generally an inch or less in most areas, with up to a couple inches possible in higher terrain.
- As temperatures rise Tuesday afternoon, a brief period of patchy freezing rain or drizzle cannot be ruled out where surface temperatures lag behind warming air aloft.
Another push of colder air follows behind that system, though not nearly as harsh as this weekend’s arctic outbreak.
Midweek outlook: Closer to normal, but unsettled
Temperatures through midweek are expected to trend closer to seasonal averages, generally near or slightly above freezing during the day and below freezing at night.
Scattered snow showers remain possible at times Tuesday night through Thursday, but no major storms are currently indicated.
After one of the coldest stretches of the winter — and some of the coldest upper-level temperatures observed in February in recent years — the pattern is shifting. While winter is far from over, the extreme cold that dominated the weekend is expected to ease as the workweek unfolds.
FingerLakes1.com will continue to monitor updates from the National Weather Service and provide new information as it becomes available.
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