First Alert Forecast: The warmth has returned to Western New York

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — You may have noticed a significant turnaround in the temperature to finish the weekend.

Compared to Saturday, today the mercury has risen by some 25 to 30 degrees across most of Western New York. This is the result of a ridge of high pressure which is now situated off the east coast and is producing a more southerly wind. The News10NBC First Alert meteorologists are forecasting this warmth to continue for another 48 hours. Tonight will bring clear skies early with increasing clouds by midnight. It will not be as cold as last night as the temperature will only fall into the middle 30s.

But, where there is warmth this time of the year, inevitably there is the chance of rain. A weak area of low-pressure is now moving across the upper great lakes and this will drag a front closer to Rochester later tomorrow. We expect to lose most of the sunshine for your Presidents Day, but it should remain mainly dry and mild. The high temperature will be in the mid-40s. The chance of wet weather increases significantly on Tuesday with occasional rain expected. Once again, it will be very mild with the temperature pushing into the low 50s.

The stretch of mild weather will end later Tuesday night with more rain showers expected and the temperature falling through the 40s into the 30s by Wednesday morning. It will be back to winter for mid-week with occasional flurries, but no accumulation expected. Look for gusty wind and the temperature falling through the 30s into the 20s on Wednesday. Winds may gust in excess of 30 to 35 miles per hour. Thursday should be mainly dry, but cold with the temperature remaining in the middle 20s.

The News 10NBCFirst Alert meteorologists continue to watch Thursday night into Friday for a possible change in alert status. It is likely that a storm will develop in the Tennessee Valley and move into portions of Pennsylvania and southern New York State. There is still some uncertainty to the potential track, but there is the chance of steady snow developing to end the workweek. The exact track will also be a determining factor if snow mixes with sleet or freezing rain. As a result, the News 10 NBC First Alert weather team has issued a yellow alert for Thursday night into Friday.

Stay tuned to News10NBC for the lasted forecast updates on this developing storm.

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