Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY

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412 FXUS61 KBUF 211810 AFDBUF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Buffalo NY 210 PM EDT Tue May 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Mid-summer warmth will continue this afternoon with well above normal temperatures and elevated humidity levels. With the very warm conditions and humidity it will also support some showers and thunderstorm well inland from the lakes. A greater threat for showers and storms arrives Wednesday as a cold front approaches the region. Cooler more comfortable weather can be expected Thursday into the first part of the Memorial Day weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Mid-summer warmth will continue today with temperatures more typical of July than late May. Highs this afternoon will again reach the mid to upper 80s. We even potentially could hit 90F in a few spots, especially in the Genesee Valley. The Watertown record high of 83F/2022 will certainly be in jeopardy, but warmer records in the 90s for Buffalo and Rochester look to be safe. Later this afternoon a shortwave will pass by to our north combined with the potential for a lake breeze boundary or two will trigger some scattered convection. The main coverage area will be well inland from the cooler stable lakes, especially from the Southern Tier northeast across the Finger Lakes into the North Country. A few more robust storms are possible across the North Country closer to the passing shortwave. Tonight...with the loss of daytime heating most showers and storms will fall apart with dry weather expected across the region. Muggy (dwpts in the 60s) and mild night with mercury reading found in the mid to upper 60s by sunrise. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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Closed mid-level low centered over the central portions of the Ontario province will become vertically stacked by Wednesday night with its surface low. As this low pressure system weakens, its associated cold front draped southward across the lower Great Lakes will continue to progress eastward across western and north central NY. This being said heading into Wednesday night, showers and a few thunderstorms will linger into the evening hours, though the potential for severe thunderstorms will diminish shortly after sunset due to the loss in diurnal heating and instability. The front will then cross Wednesday night and continue to support showers inland from the lakes. By Thursday morning the vast majority of shower activity should be to the southeast of the area, as dry air from the next incoming surface high advances east towards the area resulting in dry conditions across the region. As surface high pressure pushes east across the area Thursday through Friday, associated subsidence will support dry weather persist. Though dry, it will be `cooler` in the wake of the cold front Thursday and Friday with highs ranging in the 70s.
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&& .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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The next mid-level trough over the northern Plains/Upper Midwest will support a surface low to push northeast across the eastern Great Lakes into southern Canada Saturday. This will support a warm front to advance towards the region ahead of the surface low, resulting in an increase in shower potential Friday night and last through Saturday night. A brief interlude in shower activity for the Memorial Day weekend on Sunday as high pressure slides east across the region. Showers return late Sunday night and linger through Monday as another upper level trough and associated surface low pushes across the Ohio Valley towards the lower Great Lakes. Temperatures for the period will be near normal with high temperatures ranging in the low to upper 70s for most of the area and cooler temperatures across the higher terrain.
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&& .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Diurnal cu fields developing inland from the lakes this afternoon. Uncertain on thunderstorm potential this afternoon and early this evening. Scattered convection will develop ahead of shortwave crossing north of Lake Ontario. Expanding cu field from the Southern Tier into the Finger Lakes will also form some convection. Given hi-res guidance keeping much of the convection east and south of the area, confidence not high enough to place a mention of TSRA in at KJHW, KROC and KART. High confidence that lake shadowing will occur at KIAG and KBUF. Any convection will die out quickly this evening leaving widespread VFR conditions, with enough southerly graident flow in the boundary layer to make it difficult for fog formation. Outlook... Wednesday...VFR/MVFR. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Thursday...Mainly VFR. A chance of showers. Friday...Mainly VFR. Saturday...Restrictions possible. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunday...Mainly VFR. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. && .MARINE... South winds will continue up to 15 knots through tonight as a cold front to our west begins to approach the eastern Great Lakes, with conditions remaining below small craft levels. Low pressure will send a cold front into the eastern Great Lakes on Wednesday, but winds and waves look like they will remain below small craft conditions for the rest of the week. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...AR/TMA NEAR TERM...AR/TMA SHORT TERM...EAJ LONG TERM...EAJ AVIATION...TMA MARINE...AR/TMA