ITHACA, N.Y. — There’s nothing wrong with a quiet forecast every now and then. Generous amounts of sunshine and tranquil conditions will be in control for most of the week ahead, with temperatures warming to above-normal, summer-like readings as the week progresses. If you’ve had outdoor plans in the works, this will be a good week to get out and about.

Your Weekly Weather

It’s a pleasant Mother’s Day Sunday across much of New York State as low pressure has move eastward from the Chesapeake Bay into the Atlantic, allowing Canadian high pressure to establish a firmer presence over much of the Northeast and Eastern Great Lakes. Any outdoor plans with the mothers in your life won’t have to worry about the weather, as sunny skies prevail for the remainder of the day with highs in the mid 60s and a light east wind. Tonight will be mostly clear and brisk with lows in the upper 30s.

Canadian high pressure remains in control Monday as it holds in place over Eastern Canada. Temperatures will be a tad warmer, with near-clear sunny skies and highs in the low 70s. Monday night will be mostly clear with lows around 40°F.

The high pressure remains entrenched over Eastern Canada Tuesday. The wind will have a little more of a southerly component as the high becomes elongated, so expect high temperatures to be a little warmer and a little more humid, with mid 70s for Tuesday and sunny skies. Tuesday night will see mostly clear skies with lows in the mid 40s.

Wednesday sees that southeasterly wind pick up a little more as the high retrogrades a bit into the Northeast. A few clouds will mix in as the atmosphere becomes a little less stable, but overall it should remain quiet with partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70s. Wednesday night will see partly cloudy skies with lows in the low 50s.

Thursday will see somewhat enhanced southerly flow as a shortwave passes northeastward around the high, repositioning it and amplifying the southerly winds. It should remain dry in Tompkins County with comfortable humidity, but temperatures will climb a few degrees, into the lower 80s for highs. Thursday night will see partly cloudy skies with lows in the mid 50s.

Friday will be the warmest day yet with strong southerly flow, but the airmass is still dry enough that no precipitation is expected. It will be partly cloudy with highs in the mid 80s. Friday night will be partly cloudy with lows in the upper 50s.

The weekend shows some chance for some showers and thunderstorms, as the air mass finally taps into more unstable, moist air further south, remnants from the low that was lurking off the Southeast U.S. coast all week. Expect a touch of mugginess with a few scattered rain showers Saturday with a greater coverage of cellular showers and thunderstorms Sunday. Highs will be in the low 80s Saturday and upper 70s Sunday, with overnight lows in the low 60s.

Graphics courtesy of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center.

Extended Outlook

Looking into the second half of May, the large-scale atmospheric pattern favor warmer-than-normal conditions throughout much of the “Lower 48”, with above-normal temperatures expected in the Northeast. The pattern favor drier continental air over the Western U.S. (not a good thing, given the wildfire risks), and slightly-above normal precipitation across the Appalachians and into the Eastern Great Lakes. In other words, it seems our heat wave is likely to continue for a little while, if with a little more rain in the mix.

Brian Crandall reports on housing and development for the Ithaca Voice. He can be reached at bcrandall@ithacavoice.org.