Low pressure was heading into Ohio overnight. This track is such that the storm will be able to draw milder air northward into our area. The will ensure a continuation of the wintry mix of precipitation.
The wintry mix arrived pretty much on schedule and we continue to key in on the lower few thousand feet of the atmosphere tonight where temperatures will be very close to the freezing mark. This is why we are expecting a mix of wintry precipitation. In Syracuse, where temperatures will likely stay above freezing, any snowfall will be brief in nature and shouldn’t accumulate much. Over higher elevations across central New York, where it will be cooler, the chances for accumulating snow increases. We think in some of the higher elevations south of Syracuse and over the Tug Hill there could be some 3 or 4 inch snow totals by Wednesday morning. Well to our southwest in the higher elevations of the southern Finger Lakes into the Genesee Valley there could be more than four inches of slushy snow tonight.
Another facet to the weather will be the wind. Winds will increase from the east and east-southeast tonight and Wednesday. While breezy conditions are likely for the entire region during this time frame, down right windy conditions are expected over the higher elevations, especially over 1000 feet, where wind gusts past 50 mph are possible. Watch out also around Oneida Lake as those locations could experience some of these windy conditions along the west end of the lake. The worst of the wind will be late tonight and early Wednesday.
The rest of Wednesday will feature a mix of rain and wet snow. Again, the best chance for any accumulation will come over higher elevations.
By Thursday, both storms are forecast to more-or-less consolidate back into one system as it slowly moves through the Northeast. Enough colder air should work back into the region to allow for mainly snow showers to fall at all elevations. Even colder air is forecast to arrive late in the week and especially over the weekend. We may struggle to approach 30 degrees for daytime high temperatures this weekend. Along with the below average temperatures we expect plenty of clouds and the threat for flurries or snow showers.
