First Alert Weather: Record warmth and gusty winds Thursday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Buckle up — Thursday is going to be a wild ride! A warm front lifting through the area will allow our temperatures to actually climb into the 50s overnight with a few passing showers. The big weather stories on Thursday will be the likelihood of record warmth and more wind.

First, the warmth: our current record high for tomorrow’s date stands at 64 degrees set back in 1894. We’re forecasting a high temperature of 64 degrees. We expect to reach the mid-60s, especially if we see some breaks of sun, and thanks in part to a warming southerly downsloping wind.

Speaking of the wind: Winds will blow 20-30 mph through the morning and into the afternoon out of the south. A cold front moving in around dinner-time will help to mix down some stronger gusts. Winds will shift out of the southwest around sunset, and start gusting 30-40 mph in the Finger Lakes, and 40-50 mph across the Rochester area and west toward Buffalo. Wind Advisories are up for Monroe, Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming Counties.

We’ve also issued a Yellow Alert for Thursday evening as a result of the winds. Make sure any holiday decorations are either anchored down or put away for the day Thursday. You can bring them back out on Friday!

Friday looks great, with a mostly sunny sky and more seasonable temperatures in the lower 40s. The weekend still looks a bit wintry, with a period of area-wide snow that could bring a 1-3" accumulation to our northern tier counties. Lesser amounts are likely in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier, as some sleet and perhaps a little freezing rain may mix in, cutting down on an already meager snowfall amount.

Still, expect the weather to have a minor to moderate impact on roads and travel on Saturday. Any wraparound lake effect snow will end early on Sunday, followed by chillier air and some afternoon sun.

Next week: The week leading up to Christmas will finally start feeling more like December. Temperatures will hold in the 20s for lows and 30s for highs, which will be much more conducive for at least the chance for a white Christmas. That being said, we don’t have any big signs of any MORE snow leading up to Christmas after the weekend. There is still time for this forecast to change, and it likely will! So, if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas — don’t give up yet!

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