First Alert Weather: Several rounds of lake effect in Rochester’s future

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Buffalo region saw record-setting snowfall today, with a foot to a foot and a half of snow falling since sunrise Thursday. That was due to a single (and rather impressive) band of snow off of Lake Erie.

Lake Ontario also produced impressive amounts east of the lake in the Tug Hill region, and a wind shift early Friday morning will draw that Lake Ontario band southward, impacting the Rochester region. A Yellow Alert is up for Friday morning, for the potential for a burst of snow around the morning commute that may drop a quick inch or two of snow. It isn’t a lot of snow, but it may come down heavy at times, and cause slick roads. Once that initial burst moves through, lighter but more widespread lake effect snow showers take over, delivering another inch or two for Orleans and Monroe Counties.

The lake effect will tend to hang around the longest east of Rochester in Wayne County, where a Winter Weather Advisory is in place. Some towns here may push a half-foot of snow by late Friday night. In addition to the lake effect, temperatures will drop through the 20s and into the teens with a brisk wind.

The weekend: Any lake flakes will end early Saturday, with a cold start to the day, but a good deal of sun. Saturday will be the better and quieter weekend day, with a mix of rain and perhaps a little sleet or freezing rain to start Sunday. This won’t last, as temperatures briefly rise into the 40s. It won’t be a great day in Orchard Park for the Bills game, but the weather won’t have a big impact on the game itself.

Another blast of cold moves in early next week, with high temperatures dropping into the teens on Monday and Tuesday, with lows in the single digits. The other part of the weather story early next week will be the potential for another round of accumulating lake effect snow off of Lake Ontario Monday and Tuesday. This may include Rochester.

We’ve put a Yellow Alert in place on Tuesday for the lake snow threat, but it is still early to be looking at specific accumulations. That being said, pattern recognition points to some accumulating snow. Stay tuned.

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