934
FXUS61 KBUF 072020
AFDBUF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
420 PM EDT Tue May 7 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A warm front will move across the area tonight, with an area of
showers and a few thunderstorms crossing the area from
southwest to northeast. The showers will exit the eastern Lake
Ontario region Wednesday morning. Dry weather will then prevail
most of the time for the rest of Wednesday, although a few more
showers and thunderstorms are possible later in the afternoon
and evening, especially east of Lake Ontario. Unsettled weather
will then last Thursday through the weekend with a series of low
pressure systems crossing the region.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Tonight through early Wednesday morning a mid level trough will move
northeast across the Great Lakes, with an associated warm front
moving northeast across our area overnight. A 40+ knot southwesterly
low level jet in the upstream warm sector will impinge on the warm
front and enhance moisture transport and isentropic upglide. The
quality of forcing and moisture continue to support the idea of an
organized area of showers moving from southwest to northeast across
the area overnight. This area can be seen on radar as a semi-broken
line across Western Ohio early this afternoon. Model guidance in
good agreement bringing this into Western NY late this evening,
shortly after midnight for the Genesee Valley and western Finger
Lakes, and the pre-dawn hours east of Lake Ontario. Forecast
soundings show enough elevated instability to support a few
thunderstorms as well, especially during the first half of the
night. Storms may produce brief periods of heavy rain, but they`ll
be moving so flooding is not a concern.

Wednesday, the warm front will still be over the eastern Lake
Ontario region early in the morning with showers and a few isolated
thunderstorms. Rain will have already ended across Western NY as the
better forcing and moisture move east. It`ll be quite breezy
with wind gusts around 35 mph downwind of Lake Erie. This will
result in a lake shadow which should keep most of Western NY
rain free. The exception will be just south of Lake Ontario on
the northern fringe of the shadow where limited instability may
spark a few afternoon thunderstorms.

There may be a brief break in the showers east of Lake Ontario
late Wednesday morning, but chances there will increase again
when a strong mid level shortwave moves across southern Ontario.
The best chance for showers and thunderstorms will be along the
boundary which will be across northern Jefferson and Lewis
Counties. In addition, instability to the south of this will
feed into it, and potentially produce some stronger storms with
heavy rain. SPC just clips this area with its Marginal Risk in
the Day 2 Outlook.

Finally, an increasingly moist airmass crossing the cold lake waters
will likely produce marine layer fog late tonight through Wednesday
morning. Some of the Lake Erie fog will likely move onshore into
downtown Buffalo for a few hours Wednesday morning. Some of the Lake
Ontario fog may move onshore into Jefferson County as well.

A weak area of low pressure will be east of the forecast area
Wednesday night. The vast majority of the night will be rain-
free with only small chances for showers east of Lake Ontario
early and across the Western Southern Tier late.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
The main challenge for this period will be periodic embeded
shortwaves and the positioning of the H850 thermal boundary.
This feature is advertised to set up near the eastern Great
Lakes, or even become draped across the region. This will impact
temperatures, shower activity, and even thunderstorm potential
through Friday. What is certain, it is looking `likely` that it
will be very unsettled through at least Friday. Given the
unsettled weather anticipated...it would be highly recommended
to have an umbrella handy through Friday. As was mentioned
temperatures will be impacted...we could find ourselves on the
cooler side of the thermal boundary with below normal
temperatures. This will result in highs on Thursday only in the
60s, and then a tad bit cooler Friday with a range of 50s. May
find a few spots in the low 60s.

Friday night...it looks like we will see a general decrease in
shower coverage but can`t completely rule out some showers
overnight.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
A broad upper level trough will become nestled across much of the
Northeast through the weekend, and possibly will begin to retreat
early next week. This pattern will `likely` continue the theme of
unsettled weather (showers), and also cool conditions (slightly
below normal) across much of the region for this time of year.

&&

.AVIATION /21Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
High pressure across New England will maintain VFR flight
conditions through this evening. Tonight, a warm front will
move quickly northeast across the eastern Great Lakes. This will
bring about a three hour period of showers to most locations,
with a risk of some thunderstorms within this line. The rain
will be moving into a dry airmass, so expect mainly VFR
CIGS/VSBY initially. The low levels will saturate near the back
edge of the rain, with areas of MVFR/IFR CIGS expanding late
tonight. Patchy fog is possible behind the front, especially
northeast of the lakes at KBUF and KART. The stratus and fog
will dissipate mid to late morning, giving way to mainly VFR
flight conditions for the afternoon. The only exception is KART
where showers and thunderstorms will be possible along the
stalled boundary.

Outlook...

Wednesday night...Mainly VFR.

Thursday and Friday...Mainly MVFR. Showers likely and MVFR stratus.

Saturday and Sunday...VFR/MVFR. A chance of showers.

&&

.MARINE...
Moderate ENE winds will produce choppy conditions on Lake Ontario
west of Rochester through the first half of tonight...however winds
and waves are expected to remain below Small Craft Advisory criteria.

WSW winds will then increase late tonight and Wednesday. This will
particularly be the case across Lake Erie...where winds and wave
action will be sufficient to support Small Craft Advisories as
outlined below. Elsewhere choppy...but sub-advisory conditions can
be expected.

An increasingly moist airmass crossing the cold lake waters will
likely produce marine layer fog late tonight through Wednesday
morning on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario with visibility restrictions.

&&

.BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NY...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 8 AM to 8 PM EDT Wednesday for
         LEZ020.
         Small Craft Advisory from 5 AM to 11 PM EDT Wednesday for
         LEZ040-041.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...Apffel/Hitchcock
NEAR TERM...Apffel/Hitchcock
SHORT TERM...AR
LONG TERM...AR
AVIATION...Apffel
MARINE...Apffel/Hitchcock/JJR