Zachary Labe is a Cornell student majoring in atmospheric sciences who runs Cornell Weather.
Ithaca, N.Y. — A storm system will move slowly along the eastern seaboard spreading moisture and rain well inland into central New York. This will create cloudy, wet, and cool conditions for the entire work week in the Ithaca area.
Clouds will be increasing during the day Monday as a low pressure system over the Great Lakes advances toward the region. Temperatures will rise from the morning’s near freezing temperatures into the middle 50s.
According to the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University, the average high is 58°F and average low is 37°F for the date in Ithaca, NY. This week’s temperatures will be slightly cooler than average for afternoon highs due to the overcast skies, but nights will be warmer and only drop into the middle 40s.
The low pressure system over the Great Lakes will transfer some of its energy to a new storm system that will form off the New Jersey coastline. This storm system will move slowly along the coast causing winds to blow from the east off the Atlantic Ocean. This will increase the overcast skies and moisture across the Finger Lakes for most of the week.
How much rain are we getting?
Winds will also increase a bit from the north and northeasterly direction. The steadiest rain looks likely Tuesday and Wednesday with amounts around one quarter of an inch each day. It will not be a washout, but instead scattered showers that will be off and on.
The NOAA Weather Prediction Center is indicating approximately 0.5-0.75 inches of rain over the next 72 hours across the southern tier and Finger Lakes region of New York.
Chances of drizzle and rain showers will last through the end of the week with partial clearing possible on Friday, but the timing is uncertain.
The weekend is looking nicer with temperatures warming into the lower 60s under partly cloudy skies.
Overall it looks like a pretty typical Ithaca-weather week with cloudy, damp conditions in addition to cooler temperatures. However, there may be some relief in sight with the NOAA Climate Prediction Center indicating above average temperatures in the 8-14 day time frame.
