Our unseasonably warm December day continues to unfold. Winds from the south are picking up and it still looks like several more hours of sun through the afternoon. The bottom line is the record high temperature of 68 looks like it will fall. At this point, we wouldn’t rule out 70 degrees. That type of warm has happened in Syracuse, during December, only three times previously.
This warmth, however, won’t last. As of midday, a cold front had cleared Detroit and Indianapolis and continues to press east.
Late in the day, the cold front will be moving through the western part of the state. Along and ahead of the front, showers will be widespread and likely reach the I-81 corridor sometime after sunset. Once showers arrive, it’s quite possible that it will rain hard at times with even a rumble or two of thunder. The rain should end sometime around midnight or so as much colder air filters into the region. Initially, the conditions for lake effect snow showers won’t be there, however, as the air cools lake effect snow showers will develop as the day tomorrow unfolds. Any accumulations will be light as temperatures hold steady or even drop during the day. Expect dry and seasonably chilly weather Thursday.
Looking ahead to Friday and the weekend, complex frontal boundaries are forecast to sag east and south. This will increase cloud coverage as well as the threat for at least a few showers. Right now, details are still iffy as computer models are offering different outcomes. We should have a better idea on what the weekend may hold later on this week.
