


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY
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416 FXUS61 KBUF 201524 AFDBUF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1124 AM EDT Wed Aug 20 2025 .SYNOPSIS... An area of low pressure, with its inverted trough stretching northward across Western New York, will track south of the state line today with scattered afternoon showers. A few rain showers tonight with a cool northeast wind before activity ends and a period of fair weather commences Thursday through the start of the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... There will be a gradual drying trend this afternoon and evening as an inverted surface trough across the area fades to the south. Cold air advection within northeast flow may bring reverse flow light lake effect rain showers along both eastern Great Lakes, with perhaps these showers grazing the southern shoreline of Lake Erie tonight. Thursday will start with clouds around but as moisture depleted from top to bottom in the atmosphere we could start to see some breaks in the clouds from north to south through the afternoon hours. Northeast flow will maintain pleasantly cool afternoon temperatures in the lower to mid 70s. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... A long wave ridge will build into the Great Lakes region Thursday night through Friday night. An upper level trough moving down from Canada will cause the ridge to suppress southward beginning Saturday. High pressure will settle across the region Thursday night through Friday night and dry weather is expected during this time. The high will move east Saturday and return flow brings moisture up from the south, a few showers and storms can`t be ruled out Saturday afternoon. High temperatures will be a few degrees above normal, while low temperatures will be near normal Thursday night through Saturday. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... An anomalously deep trough will move into the Great Lakes region this weekend into next work week. This pattern shift will bring cool, unsettled weather to western and north-central NY. Deep moisture will surge northward ahead of the upper level trough Saturday night into Sunday. A cold front will approach the region Saturday night and showers and a few storms should expand in coverage across the region. Coverage of strong thunderstorms will depend on the timing of the front Sunday. A cooler airmass will move into the region with mean 850mb temperatures falling to the single digits by Monday-Tuesday. As embedded shortwave troughs and associated moisture pass through the region, showers with lake enhancement will be possible early next week. It is likely that temperatures will be below normal Monday through Wednesday, with day times highs in the mid 60s to mid 70s, warmest along the lake plains. && .AVIATION /16Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Widely scattered light showers and patchy drizzle will remain across the area this afternoon. Flight conditions at IFR or lower will likely persist through at least 18z in the light precipitation and low stratus, before gradually improving to MVFR through the rest of the afternoon and evening. Though the rain showers and drizzle will end tonight, low level moisture will linger with MVFR ceiling heights continuing. IFR possible across the higher terrain. Outlook... Thursday through Saturday...VFR. Saturday night and Sunday...MVFR/VFR. Rain showers likely. && .MARINE... An area of low pressure, with its inverted trough stretching northward across Western New York, will track south of the state line today. Conditions become somewhat favorable for waterspouts on Lake Erie today with the passage of the surface trough. With this low passing from Lake Erie and then just southward of the state line northeast flow will dominate the next 48 hours...with speeds over 20 knots on both Lake Erie and the central and western waters of Lake Ontario maintaining small craft headlines. Though the northeast flow continues Thursday, wind speeds will begin to lower by Thursday night allowing for waves to begin to diminish and ending the SCA period. A lighter wind flow is then expected for Friday and Saturday, becoming southerly ahead of an upstream cold front. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...Beach Hazards Statement through Thursday afternoon for NYZ001- 002. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT Thursday for LEZ040-041. Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Thursday for LOZ042. Small Craft Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 5 PM EDT Thursday for LOZ043. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Thomas/TMA NEAR TERM...Thomas/TMA SHORT TERM...HSK LONG TERM...HSK AVIATION...TMA MARINE...Thomas/TMA