Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY

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347 FXUS61 KBUF 212226 AFDBUF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Buffalo NY 626 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/...
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Early this evening a cluster of thunderstorms across the Eastern Lake Ontario region will continue to move northeast and out of the forecast area around sunset. The area has developed in an area of higher CAPE around 1500 J/Kg. Shear profiles do not look overly favorable, but have been ample to support one storm producing strong gusty winds and some small hail. Elsewhere, a widely scattered thunderstorm can`t be ruled out but the vast majority of the area will be rain free. The loss of diurnal heating will quickly end the convection early this evening. The will leave a dry and mild night with overnight lows in the 60s. Active weather day expected Wednesday with the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms. Ahead of approaching cold frontal boundary an increasingly unstable environment will emerge, with surface temperatures in the mid to upper 80s and surface dewpoints getting into the mid to upper 60s. Surface based CAPES likely nearing 2000 j/kg during peak heating. Increasing shear profiles suggesting the potential for damaging winds and hail, with even a small corridor of enhanced low level helicity developing into southwest New York possibly favoring a few rotating cells.
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&& .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... 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. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... 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. && .AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... 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 and KROC. Storms will pass close to KART, but may not pass across the airfield. 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...Apffel/TMA SHORT TERM...EAJ LONG TERM...EAJ AVIATION...TMA MARINE...AR/TMA