textproduct: Binghamton

SYNOPSIS

Behind an arctic cold front, very cold conditions are expected tonight with low temperatures and wind chills in the single digits and below zero in some areas. After a cold day on Friday, temperatures will warm up a bit for the weekend, but still remain below normal. There will be plenty of chances for light snow over the next week as several fast moving clipper systems push through.

NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/

An arctic cold front continues to move through the area and will soon completely clear the area. As expected, some snow squalls did develop along this front, especially across parts of Central NY. Several Snow Squall Warnings were issued this morning into the early afternoon, especially along the I-81 and I-88 corridors. The threat for snow squalls is now quickly diminishing as drier air mixes down, leaving behind some occasional light to moderate snow showers. The most concentrated area of snow showers will continue to be across parts of Onondaga and Madison counties, where a lake effect snow band continues to impact those areas. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for those two counties until 7PM, where an additional 2-3 inches of snow is expected to fall in the most persistent snow bands.

The main story for tonight will be the very cold air that will quickly spill into the region. Near record low temperatures will be possible as lows will likely be in the single digits for the large majority of the area. Below zero readings for lows are likely in the usual colder spots of Oneida County and the Catskills. While winds are gusty during the day today, they will quickly diminish this evening as high pressure quickly moves in. Wind chills will get near Cold Weather Advisory criteria (-15F) for those areas, but will likely fall a bit short, or only have a few isolated spots reach criteria. After coordinating with WFOs BUF and ALY, it was decided to hold off on issuing any Cold Weather Advisories for this reason.

High pressure slides east on Friday and this will allow warmer return flow to take hold by Friday afternoon, increasing temperatures somewhat. However, highs Friday afternoon will still be about 10 degrees below normal for early December with highs in the 20s.

SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/

A weak short wave approaches the region on Saturday bringing another chance of show showers, mainly over central NY. Otherwise southerly flow will help temperatures rebound to the lower to mid 30s. Temperatures Saturday night will range in the upper teens to lower 20s. Another shortwave/clipper system will move through the area later in the day on Sunday, which will bring another round of light snow. This system will also be accompanied by a cold front, which will usher in another cold airmass starting Sunday night.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

The aforementioned cold airmass will result in highs only in the upper teens to mid 20s on Monday, followed by lows in the single digits Monday night. Otherwise, temperatures will moderate to closer to normal the remainder of the week, but still a few degrees below normal.

Otherwise, zonal flow will continue to result in multiple weak disturbances moving through with multiple chances for light snow throughout the week. Despite the multiple chances for nuisance snow in the long term, no significant storm systems are expected at this time and any snow accumulations will likely be minor.

AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Mostly VFR conditions through the period. There are some lake effect clouds coming off Cayuga Lake and bringing MVFR ceilings to ITH early this morning, but as the low level flow shifts more westerly in the next couple hours, these clouds will then scatter out.

Finally, some marine layer clouds will push into AVP this evening and eventually make their way up to BGM and possibly ELM as well. This will likely bring MVFR ceiling restrictions through the overnight period into Saturday morning.

Outlook...

Saturday...Occasional restrictions possible in scattered snow showers, mainly during the afternoon and especially at the Central NY terminals.

Sunday...Restrictions possible as a frontal system and scattered snow showers approaches the region.

Monday...Becoming mainly VFR, but lingering restrictions possible at the Central NY terminals due to lake effect clouds and/or light snow showers.

Tuesday...Restrictions possible in scattered snow showers, especially in the afternoon.

BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PA...None. NY...None.