Sunshine will return across the Finger Lakes and Central New York on Friday, with highs in the 50s before temperatures fall to near or below freezing in many inland locations tonight. A warmer, dry weekend will follow, according to the National Weather Service offices in Buffalo and Binghamton.
High pressure will keep rain out of the region through the weekend and into early next week. Early morning fog will be a recurring feature in some river and lake valleys, while afternoons turn sunnier and temperatures climb into the 60s by Sunday.
Friday turns sunny after early clouds and fog
A weak cold front has moved through the region, leaving slightly cooler air behind it. Any remaining low clouds south of Lake Ontario and across the Southern Tier should diminish as drier air moves in, with lake clouds thinning by late morning or midday.
Those low clouds are expected to be too shallow to produce precipitation. Higher clouds will occasionally pass overhead from midmorning into tonight, but the day will remain mostly sunny across much of the region.
Patchy fog is possible early Friday, particularly in sheltered valleys. Around Elmira, areas of fog could last until about 10 a.m.; shorter periods are possible near Ithaca and Syracuse. The Geneva forecast also includes patchy fog before 10 a.m.
Afternoon temperatures will generally reach the mid- to upper 50s. Rochester is forecast to top out near 55, with temperatures closer to 59 around Ithaca. The broader western and central New York forecast allows some locations to reach the lower 60s.
Winds will remain light inland, generally from the north or northeast. The Rochester area will have a northeast breeze around 7 mph, while winds across much of Central New York and the Southern Tier stay closer to calm or just a few miles per hour.
Conditions on the eastern Great Lakes will be choppier than those light inland winds suggest. Northeast winds will gradually ease Friday afternoon, though a moderate chop will continue on both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
A cold Friday night brings inland freezing temperatures
Temperatures will drop quickly tonight where skies clear and winds become light. Low humidity will also help the ground lose heat, bringing overnight lows into the mid-20s to mid-30s across much of western and central New York by daybreak Saturday.
The colder readings will be inland. Elmira is forecast to fall to about 28 degrees, while Ithaca and Syracuse will be near 32. Temperatures around Geneva and Rochester should stay a little higher, in the lower to mid-30s.
Cloud cover will vary, with partly cloudy skies in much of the region and more clouds possible around Syracuse. Those differences, along with local terrain and proximity to water, will affect how cold individual locations become.
Patchy fog may develop again in the Finger Lakes valleys overnight. The National Weather Service also expects localized fog in Southern Tier river valleys during the late-night and early morning hours, a pattern that can continue through Monday morning.
Saturday warms after a chilly start
Saturday will begin cold, with any valley fog gradually lifting during the morning. Sunshine will then dominate as high pressure remains over the Northeast and slightly warmer air starts moving into the region.
Highs will reach around 60 to 62 degrees in many communities, a modest increase from Friday. Winds will be very light, with southerly or southeasterly flow developing in parts of the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier while Syracuse keeps a light northeast wind.
Afternoon humidity will be low through the weekend. The warmer daytime temperatures will be accompanied by dry air, followed by cooler nights as heat escapes under clear skies.
Another cold night will follow under mainly clear skies. Inland valleys can fall into the mid-20s to lower 30s, while readings closer to Lake Ontario and some of the Finger Lakes remain in the mid- to upper 30s. The forecast ranges from about 29 in Elmira to 38 in Rochester, with Ithaca near freezing.
Sunday reaches the mid-60s
Sunday will be warmer, with sunshine following any localized morning fog. Highs will reach about 65 or 66 degrees across much of the Finger Lakes, Central New York and Southern Tier, with the broader western New York forecast ranging from the upper 50s to upper 60s.
South to southwest winds will bring in warmer air as the center of high pressure shifts toward the Atlantic. Rochester should have a southwest breeze of about 3 to 7 mph, while winds remain lighter farther inland.
Some higher clouds may pass through Sunday afternoon and night. Overnight temperatures will stay milder than the previous two nights, generally in the mid-30s to upper 40s across western and central New York. Sheltered Southern Tier valleys will remain among the cooler locations, with fog possible again toward morning.
Monday stays mild before another dry front
Monday will remain mild, with highs in the 60s for much of the region. The warmest readings are expected farther south, where temperatures could reach the upper 60s around Elmira.
A weak cold front is expected to cross western and central New York from late morning into early afternoon. Moisture will be limited, so the front should pass without rain. Clouds will vary as the front approaches, followed by another area of high pressure building from Canada.
Tuesday brings cooler afternoons
Cooler air will settle in for Tuesday, bringing highs back into the lower to mid-50s with mostly sunny skies. Tuesday night will turn cold again, with inland lows in the mid-20s to lower 30s.
The mainly dry pattern is expected to last into the middle of next week. Temperatures should recover toward the upper 50s and lower 60s Wednesday, with only a possibility of brief passing showers later in the week.
Check the latest forecast at the FingerLakes1.com Weather Center.
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