Snow showers will linger across the Finger Lakes and Central New York on Friday, with the greatest additional accumulation on higher terrain before a chilly weekend brings more rain and wet snow. A drier pattern and a gradual warmup arrive early next week.
Friday’s highs will range from about 39 to 42 degrees in seven local National Weather Service forecasts. North to northwest winds will add a chill, with the Binghamton office’s early Friday discussion forecasting afternoon wind chills in the 20s and 30s across its forecast area.
Friday snow favors higher ground
Snow associated with the departing coastal storm will gradually taper from north to south through the day. Binghamton forecasters expect an additional 1 to 2 inches on higher elevations through early afternoon, with minimal amounts elsewhere. Rain can mix in as temperatures rise, especially in lower elevations.
The Buffalo discussion also favors limited accumulation in lower elevations. Lake-effect and terrain-driven showers will develop south of the eastern Great Lakes, with a coating to 2 inches of additional snow possible along the Bristol Hills and Chautauqua Ridge Friday through Friday night. Those higher-terrain amounts do not apply uniformly across the region.
The local forecasts show how conditions will vary:
- Geneva: High near 40, with a 50% chance of snow or mixed rain and snow showers. Less than half an inch of new snow is possible during the day.
- Penn Yan: High near 39. Snow showers are likely before 9 a.m., followed by rain and snow showers, with less than an inch of new snow possible.
- Ithaca: High near 41. Snow showers are likely before 11 a.m., then mixed showers become less likely. Around an inch of new snow is possible during the daytime period.
- Auburn: High near 41, with a chance of snow showers through early afternoon and a smaller chance of rain or mixed showers afterward. Less than an inch of new snow is possible.
- Syracuse: High near 41. A 40% precipitation chance favors snow before 11 a.m., with a smaller chance of mixed showers later. The daytime forecast allows around an inch of new snow.
- Canandaigua: High near 40, with rain and snow showers likely and less than half an inch of new snow possible.
- Rochester: High near 42. An early snow-shower chance gives way to rain showers likely after 8 a.m.
Daytime winds generally run from the north or northwest at 5 to 13 mph. Snow coverage and accumulation will depend on elevation, temperature and where individual showers persist.
Tonight brings another geographic split
Friday night’s lows will settle near 31 to 34 degrees. Geneva, Penn Yan, Ithaca, Auburn and Syracuse have roughly 30% to 40% chances of rain or snow showers, with northwest winds generally lighter than during the day.
Showers are more likely farther west. Canandaigua’s precipitation chance rises to 90%, with snow showers likely before 2 a.m. and mixed rain and snow afterward. Less than an inch of new snow is possible there. Rochester has an 80% chance of precipitation, with a chance of rain before midnight followed by rain and snow showers.
More showers Saturday, then gradual improvement
A disturbance crossing the region will increase precipitation Saturday into Saturday night. Saturday highs will be about 42 to 44 degrees, with northwest winds generally around 3 to 13 mph. Rain and snow showers are forecast across much of the Finger Lakes and Central New York; Rochester’s daytime forecast favors rain.
Saturday night looks particularly unsettled, with precipitation chances of 90% to 100% in the seven local forecasts and lows near 32 to 36 degrees. Rain can mix with or turn to snow during colder overnight periods, particularly around Penn Yan, Ithaca and Syracuse.
Buffalo forecasters allow an additional coating to an inch on higher terrain Saturday through Saturday night, with a quick coating possible in lower elevations. Binghamton expects most additional lake-effect accumulations to remain a half-inch or less, although a persistent narrow band over the Cortland Hills could produce around an inch or slightly more. Exact band placement remains a source of uncertainty.
Sunday highs will reach about 43 to 45 degrees. Showers should diminish, especially from the west: Rochester and Canandaigua forecasts favor precipitation ending by early afternoon, while chances linger across the central and eastern Finger Lakes and Central New York. Some showers could continue Sunday night.
Eastern counties remain under winter alerts
Farther east, Otsego County’s winter storm warning continues until 1 p.m. Friday. The weather service reports that 6 to 12 inches has already fallen above 1,500 feet, with up to 2 additional inches possible.
Chenango and Delaware counties remain under a winter weather advisory until 1 p.m., also with up to 2 additional inches possible. Both alerts describe slippery travel and power outages associated with heavy snow on trees. These alerts and heavier reported totals are specific to those counties.
Drier and warmer next week
High pressure will bring improving conditions Monday, although a slight early shower chance remains in several Central New York forecasts. Clouds may be slow to break, with highs around 46 to 48 degrees and generally light west or northwest winds.
Tuesday brings more sunshine and highs around 52 to 54. Wednesday’s highs rise to roughly 57 to 58, followed by upper 50s to near 60 Thursday. Nights remain much cooler, with several inland communities falling near or below freezing early in the week.
Forecast based on National Weather Service information collected early Friday, Nov. 13. Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph of current conditions.
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