A sunny Saturday will start a dry, warmer weekend across the Finger Lakes and Central New York, with afternoon temperatures reaching the lower 60s after a cold morning. Another chilly night will follow before highs climb into the mid-60s Sunday, according to the National Weather Service offices in Buffalo and Binghamton.
High pressure will keep most of the region dry through early next week. A weak cold front will bring cooler weather Tuesday, while localized valley fog remains possible during the late-night and early morning hours.
Saturday turns sunny after a cold start
Temperatures are expected to bottom out in the mid-20s to mid-30s across much of western and central New York around daybreak. The coldest readings will be in sheltered inland valleys, while some locations closer to the lakes stay above freezing.
A few high clouds will move out early, leaving plenty of sunshine through the afternoon. High pressure over the Northeast will keep winds light and prevent rain as slightly warmer air starts moving into the region.
Most communities will reach the lower 60s. Rochester is forecast to reach about 61 degrees, with Geneva and Syracuse near 62 and Ithaca near 63. The broader western New York forecast ranges from the mid-50s to lower 60s.
Winds across the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier will generally be southerly at only a few miles per hour. Syracuse will have a light northerly wind, with little wind across much of Central New York during the day.
Fog could briefly reduce visibility in some river and lake valleys early Saturday. Geneva's forecast includes patchy fog until about 10 a.m., while fog around Elmira is expected to be more localized and shorter-lived. The National Weather Service expects any morning valley fog to dissipate by midmorning.
The dry weather extends to the eastern Great Lakes. Variable winds around 6 to 12 mph will turn easterly near sunset, then south to southwest tonight and Sunday. Waves will generally remain 3 feet or less through Sunday night.
Another cold night in the valleys
Clear or mostly clear skies and light winds will allow temperatures to fall again Saturday night. With little cloud cover to hold in daytime warmth, the coldest inland valleys will drop below freezing by Sunday morning.
The contrast between valleys and areas nearer the lakes will be pronounced. Elmira is forecast to fall to about 27 degrees, with Ithaca near 31. Rochester should stay closer to 38, while much of the northern and central Finger Lakes remains in the mid-30s.
The broader overnight forecast calls for mid-20s to upper 30s across western and central New York. That range reflects another night of strong cooling under high pressure, even as the daytime weather begins to warm.
Fog may form again where the air cools near rivers and lakes. Patchy fog could develop around Geneva after 11 p.m., while the Elmira forecast places the next fog chance closer to daybreak Sunday.
Sunday brings a warmer afternoon
Sunday will begin chilly, with localized fog lifting during the morning. Sunshine will dominate for much of the day as warmer air continues moving north around the western side of high pressure.
Afternoon temperatures will reach the mid-60s across much of the Finger Lakes and Central New York. Geneva is forecast to reach about 66 degrees, while Rochester, Ithaca and Syracuse will be near 65. The Southern Tier will also reach the 60s after its colder start.
South to southwest winds will remain light, generally around 3 to 7 mph. Some middle and high clouds may pass through Sunday afternoon and night, but rain is not expected during the weekend.
Sunday night will be milder than Saturday night. Lows will range from the mid-30s in colder Southern Tier valleys to the 40s farther north, including about 44 around Geneva and 46 around Rochester. Fog may return in some valleys toward Monday morning.
Monday stays mild as a weak front moves south
Monday's warmest temperatures will be farther south, with highs near 68 around Ithaca and 69 around Elmira. Readings closer to Lake Ontario and across the northern Finger Lakes will generally stay in the lower to mid-60s.
The weak cold front is expected to cross western and north-central New York from late morning into early afternoon. It will reach the Binghamton forecast region farther south Monday night into Tuesday, bringing a later change to cooler air there.
Moisture will be limited along the front, so most locations should remain dry. Isolated light showers are possible in far northern Jefferson and Lewis counties, including the Thousand Islands, rather than across the main Finger Lakes and Central New York forecast area.
Skies will be sunny to mostly sunny locally, with some additional clouds as the front approaches. West winds will increase to around 5 to 10 mph in parts of the region before turning northerly behind the front. Temperatures Monday night will fall into the upper 20s and 30s across Central New York and the Southern Tier.
Tuesday cools before temperatures recover Wednesday
Tuesday will remain dry with sunshine, but afternoon temperatures will be noticeably lower. Highs will range from about 49 around Rochester to 54 around Elmira, with much of the Finger Lakes near 50 to 53.
Canadian high pressure will settle overhead Tuesday night. Light winds and clear skies will bring another cold night, with temperatures falling into the 20s and lower 30s. Inland valleys will again have some of the lowest readings.
Mostly sunny weather will continue Wednesday as temperatures recover toward the upper 50s and lower 60s. A southerly breeze will strengthen Thursday ahead of another weak front, bringing highs well into the 60s. A slight chance of brief light rain returns in parts of the region Thursday, with the broader pattern expected to remain mainly dry and mild into Halloween.
Check the latest forecast at the FingerLakes1.com Weather Center.
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