Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY
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034 FXUS61 KBUF 221914 AFDBUF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Buffalo NY 214 PM EST Fri Nov 22 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure will continue to spin over the Northeast US through tonight, producing low elevation rain and high elevation wet snow across the region. A few leftover rain and wet snow showers will continue Saturday through early Sunday before high pressure builds in and brings a return to dry weather by late Sunday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... Stacked low pressure across eastern New York this afternoon will take a circular track across southern New England tonight before exiting across the Gulf of Maine on Saturday. This will maintain a moist cyclonic flow aloft during the period and a risk for periodic precipitation. Large scale lift associated with the warm conveyor of the cyclone will weaken as it moves from east to west across the area this afternoon. By late evening this feature will weaken and move to our south, bringing an end to the steadier precipitation. Expect a lull in precipitation for most areas late tonight, then an increasing northwesterly flow Saturday will result in some upslope and/or lake enhanced precipitation. By this time, the moisture is shallow and likely not deep enough to reach into the DGZ. As a result, suspect model QPF is too high Saturday afternoon with some showers and patchy drizzle expected. Precipitation type will continue to be heavily dependent on elevation. The region has moved into a warmer sector of the storm with 850mb temps around -3C. This combined with daytime heating has raised snow levels to the highest terrain, roughly over 1700 feet. Through this evening, could see up to 2 inches of additional wet snow accumulation across higher terrain with all rain across lower elevations. Some higher elevation snows can`t be ruled out late tonight into Saturday morning, then after that slight warming and low cloud tops should result in all rain. It will be quite windy along the lakeshores this afternoon through this evening, with north winds gusting in the 30-40 mph range close to the lakes. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Cool NW flow will continue to support some measure of lake/upslope precipitation Saturday night behind the departed mid-level low. A shortwave dropping southeast through this NW flow is advertised to bring a re-enforcing shot of colder air overnight nudging H850 T`s down to -5C/-7C as we move into Sunday. While this normally would help or support lake effect...drier air working in at the mid-levels will limit its potential. Therefore...have lowered POPs and added drizzle given the lack of moisture extending through the DGZ. Lingering precipitation Sunday morning will then begin to dissipate and drier conditions will take hold by late in the afternoon. After that...weak high pressure takes over and mid-levels begin to warm rapidly Sunday night. Monday...it looks like it will remain dry for much of the day and mild ahead of an area of low pressure taking shape over the Mid- Mississippi Valley. Monday night...given that guidance shows the low passing to our west across Michigan this will keep the eastern Great Lakes firmly in the warm-sector. No p-type concerns at the moment with precipitation all in the liquid form. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Next upper level trough will dive southeast across the Great Lakes Tuesday, supporting a deepening Colorado low to advance northeast across the central/lower Great Lakes. Overall this will support a pair of fronts to cross the area, supporting daytime rain and a mix of rain and snow at night. Should note that, breezy to blustery conditions will be possible with this low pressure system, but it will highly depend on the track of the surface low. If the low tracks northeast across the central Great Lakes, expect a windier forecast. As of right now, model consensus has the low tracking overhead and kept windy conditions at bay for now. By Tuesday night the trough will have deepened into an upper level low, where the low will then lift northeast across New England into the Canadian maritimes by Thursday, and place zonal flow across the area. Overall a surface low pressure will slide northeast into New England while surface high pressure pushes into the area in its wake. A weak shortwave will pivot the exiting upper level low helping provide some moisture and advect colder air (temperatures drop to -6C at 850mb) in northwest flow. This will result in lake effect precipitation southeast of both lakes. Temperatures will drastically cool to support snow Tuesday night through Wednesday. Surface high pressure will push east across New York State Thursday supporting a dry start for the Thanksgiving holiday. The next upper level trough will dive southeast across much of the CONUS Thursday night and linger across the Great Lakes and New England for the end of the week and into the next week. This will be the first shot of lasting cold air this season. The next surface low will be advancing east/east-northeast across southeast brushing the southern portions of New York State, producing some rain and snow showers. This low will then lift northeast along the Atlantic coastline returning chances for some lake effect showers southeast of the lakes Friday. && .AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Widespread rain across lower elevations and rain/snow mix across higher terrain this afternoon, although the area of steadiest rains will move from west to east across the area. Lots of low moisture resulting in MVFR/IFR cigs across the area. Higher confidence in IFR across higher terrain, but expect periods of IFR across lower terrain during the day today also. Rain and fog will also result in visibilities of 2 to 3SM at times. It will also be quite windy today with northerly gusts 25 to 30 knots at times. Tonight, the widespread precipitation will be replaced by scattered rain and snow showers in northerly upslope flow with some contribution from limited lake effect. CIGS should improve somewhat across lower elevations, with mainly MVFR for lower elevations and IFR for higher terrain. On Saturday some rain (and possibly wet snow) will increase somewhat during the day. By the afternoon expect cloud tops below the DGZ which may result in drizzle. Expect mainly MVFR cigs with areas of IFR and also some vsby restrictions possible. Outlook... Saturday night...VFR/MVFR with rain or wet snow showers across higher terrain. Sunday...VFR/MVFR with a chance of a rain or snow shower. Monday...VFR/MVFR with a chance of rain during the afternoon and evening. Tuesday...MVFR with rain and snow showers likely. Wednesday...VFR/MVFR with a chance of rain or snow showers. && .MARINE... A moderately deep surface low will loop from southeast NY across southern New England through this evening. This will support Small Craft headlines on most of the waters as outlined below. Winds will gradually diminish later tonight with Small craft Advisory conditions coming to an end. The lull in winds will not last long, with increasing northwest winds Saturday bringing another round of Small Craft Advisory conditions to both lakes. A ridge will then briefly build across the waters Sunday night. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM EST Saturday for LEZ040-041. Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM EST Saturday for LOZ030-045. Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EST Saturday for LOZ042>044. Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EST this afternoon for SLZ022-024. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Apffel NEAR TERM...Apffel SHORT TERM...AR LONG TERM...EAJ AVIATION...Apffel MARINE...Apffel/Hitchcock