Severe Storms Likely Tonight Before Sharp Cooldown Arrives

Weather forecast for the Finger Lakes: Severe Storms Likely Tonight Before Sharp Cooldown Arrives

Enjoy what’s left of this warm evening — it won’t last. Temperatures are sitting in the mid-to-upper 80s across the region right now, but conditions are set to change dramatically after dark.

A line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to push across the Finger Lakes between roughly 5 and 9 PM, ahead of a cold front currently tracking through Ontario. The Storm Prediction Center has placed the region under a Slight Risk for severe weather tonight, with CAPE values running between 1,000 and 2,000 J/kg — enough to support damaging wind gusts and heavy rain with the strongest cells. The front itself arrives between 2 and 3 AM, sweeping the storms east by early Wednesday.

Behind the front, Wednesday looks dramatically different: skies clear, winds shift northwest, and temperatures drop back to more seasonal levels. Expect a dry and noticeably cooler stretch through Friday, with lows likely falling into the upper 40s by midweek. The Memorial Day weekend bears watching for a return of unsettled conditions.

Weather Center forecast for the Finger Lakes region. Sourced from NWS, Open-Meteo, NWS Area Forecast Discussion, and USGS stream-flow data. Updated 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM ET.

Stay Informed: Finger Lakes news, delivered to your inbox every morning.