First Alert Weather: Yellow Alert for winter travel issues

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — An area of low pressure will be moving into the Great Lakes for tonight and Sunday. This is being watched very carefully by the News 10NBC First Alert meteorologists because of the potential for accumulating snow. The total amount of snowfall should be small, but there is some concern because of the busy travel day due to the holiday. We should emphasize that this is not a significant “weather maker”, but it will be enough to produce some area-wide snow showers with additional lake snow Sunday night with the potential for slippery roadways for the end of the weekend. In any event, we should prepare for several days of below-average temperatures and wintry conditions.

Tonight will bring mainly cloudy skies with some light snow showers developing by mid to late evening. There could be a small accumulation by Sunday morning with a coating to an inch. It appears the greatest likelihood for snowfall will be south of Rochester. The temperature will fall into the upper 20s. Occasional light snow is once again be possible for Sunday, but the temperature will rise above freezing which should reduce the chance of any real accumulation. However, as this low pressure slides east of Rochester for Sunday night, colder air with a more northerly wind flow could bring a more enhanced snowfall off Lake Ontario. If this occurs, there is a much greater chance of accumulation with at least 1-2” likely by Monday morning. The complication of poor visibility in spots and accumulating snowfall would be greatly reduce speeds for roadway travel .

This low pressure system is not fast moving system. As a result, more flurries and snow showers will be possible for Monday, Monday night and Tuesday. But again any accumulation will be generally small. You can expect the temperature to be mostly in the 30s.

Looking ahead to mid-week, another storm will be moving across the Great Lakes, but this low-pressure system will have a more northerly track. As a result, Western New York can expect moderation to the temperature with mercury rising into the 40s by Wednesday and Thursday. The one dry day is expected to be Wednesday with clouds and breaks of sunshine.

In the longer range, another cold front will cross WNY late Thursday. This system will bring another shot of cold weather for Friday with gusty winds and sharply colder temperatures for the end of the week.

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