Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY

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761 FXUS61 KBUF 160747 AFDBUF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Buffalo NY 347 AM EDT Sun Jun 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure over the eastern Great Lakes will move off the New England coast today, bringing a continuation of dry weather to the region. A warming trend begins today with heat and humidity building Monday, and lasting through much of next week with high temperatures in the 90s and dangerous heat index values peaking in the upper 90s to low 100s Tuesday and Wednesday.
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&& .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
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Surface high pressure will drift east across New England today, then off the east coast by this evening. Increasing warm advection in the wake of the departing high will bring some periods of high cirrus, but these should remain thin enough to keep a mainly sunny forecast. Temperatures will begin to increase, with highs in the lower to mid 80s across far western New York and the Genesee Valley, with a range of 70s further east. Humidity levels will remain very comfortable. Dry conditions should prevail tonight, but a very low risk for a few showers exists late tonight from Lake Ontario into the North Country as weak shortwave energy rides over the ridge. Most overnight lows 65 to 70 degrees, with a some lower 60s for the normally cooler spots.
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&& .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
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...Dangerous Heat Wave Will Begin to Impact the Region... A 500 hPa ridge will expand this period, after a shortwave rounds the top of the ridge axis Monday morning. There may be a few lingering showers east of Lake Ontario Monday morning, otherwise a dry day is expected, with building heat and humidity. Monday the surface pressure gradient will increase with the passing of the shortwave aloft, with a bit of a southerly breeze in the 20 mph range. While not a great magnitude, this southwesterly flow behind the departed surface high will increase moisture advection through the day. Temperatures Monday will climb into the 80s, and lower 90s for the lake Plain and Genesee Valley. The southwest breeze may be strong enough to keep Metro Buffalo and Watertown in the upper 80s. As the dewpoints increase with the moisture advection through the 60s Monday heat index values will climb well into the 90s. Southerly flow will maintain a muggy and warm night, with lows only in the upper 60s interior WNY, to lower 70s across the Lake Plain, Genesee Valley and much of the North Country.
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&& .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
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...Dangerous Heat Wave Will Continue For The Region... A nearly 600 dm 500 hPa ridge, centered just to our east and south Wednesday will maintain both summer`s intense heat and humidity over our region Tuesday through at least Thursday. This feature will slowly slide southward through this period, with a zonal flow aloft by period`s closure. Under this ridge, subsidence will prevent all but a few of the strongest updrafts from forming into showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through Thursday, with just isolated convection along a lake breeze boundary across WNY. Subtle shortwaves within the zonal flow aloft Friday and Saturday may trigger a bit more convection, especially near Lake Ontario and points eastward. The heat and humidity will be the big story this period. Highs in the 90s Tuesday through Thursday combined with dewpoints in the 60s and lower 70s will bring apparent temperatures into the 90s to lower 100s. Highest heat index values will be along the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario and within the Genesee Valley. Overnight lows will be in the 70s with mugginess continuing. Winds will be light, with even Buffalo and Watertown able to reach into the 90s without the cooling lake breeze. With such hot conditions, please remember to drink plenty of fluids, stay in cooler areas (air conditioned or shaded), and wear light loose clothing to help remain cool and avoid heat illness! There will be potential for both record maximum and minimum values this period, with more information in the climate section below. Under the zonal flow later in the period daytime highs will drop back several degrees, with less 90s found Friday and Saturday.
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&& .AVIATION /08Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
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VFR will prevail through today as high pressure drifts from the eastern Great Lakes into New England. A few periods of high/thin cirrus will cross the region. Winds will be relatively light through the period. Outlook... Monday...VFR. Tuesday through Thursday...VFR, but a slight chance for afternoon thunderstorms inland from the lakes.
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&& .MARINE...
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Winds and waves will remain below Small Craft Advisory criteria through today. Easterly winds will increase today, especially on the central and western portions of Lake Ontario where some choppy conditions may develop. Winds will then be generally light Monday through much of next week as high pressure anchors over the Ohio Valley and New England.
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&& .CLIMATE... A prolonged period of heat is expected for our region, starting Monday June 17th. Below are record high temperatures for our three main climate sites: ...Buffalo... ...Date.....Record Maximum (F)...Record warm Minimum (F)... ...June 17........94/1994............73/2006 ...June 18........95/1994............73/2006 ...June 19........90/2001............73/1919 ...June 20........92/1995............73/2012 ...Rochester... ...Date.....Record Maximum (F)...Record warm Minimum (F)... ...June 17........94/1994............70/1994 ...June 18........97/1957............72/2018 ...June 19........95/2001............72/1919 ...June 20........95/1953............72/1923 ...Watertown... ...Date.....Record Maximum (F)...Record warm Minimum (F)... ...June 17........89/1994............68/1949 ...June 18........91/1957............70/1992 ...June 19........91/2007............70/1949 ...June 20........90/1971............71/2012 Temperature records for Buffalo and Rochester date back to 1871. Temperature records for Watertown date back to 1949. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Hitchcock/TMA NEAR TERM...TMA SHORT TERM...Thomas LONG TERM...Thomas AVIATION...Hitchcock/JM/TMA MARINE...Hitchcock/JM/TMA CLIMATE...Thomas