Every weather station across the Finger Lakes is already reading 70°F or warmer at 6 AM — and the day is only going to get harder from here. Both NWS Buffalo and NWS Binghamton have Heat Advisories in effect through 8:00 PM tonight, covering every county in the region, and the reasoning is straightforward: a massive high-pressure dome sitting over the lower Great Lakes is pushing 850-millibar temperatures into the 99th percentile for mid-July. That means brutal afternoon heat with nowhere to hide.
Highs this afternoon will push into the mid-to-upper 90s across the board. Ithaca and Watkins Glen are projected to hit 100°, with Auburn close behind at 97° and Geneva at 96°. Dewpoints in the low 70s will push heat indices into the lower 100s — possibly as high as 105° in valley locations — during the 11 AM to 5 PM window. This is genuinely dangerous heat, and anyone without air conditioning should make plans now.
NWS Buffalo also notes a strong low-level jet this afternoon that could mix some gusty winds down to the surface, so don’t count on a breeze for relief. Skies stay partly cloudy throughout. After 8 PM, temperatures ease slowly through the 80s, with overnight lows settling back near 70°.
Wednesday brings some relief — highs near 90° but with noticeably lower humidity as drier air filters in behind the high. By Thursday, readings drop to near 80°, and the pattern begins to transition. Saturday and Sunday bring light drizzle chances and highs in the low 80s, signaling a more seasonable stretch heading into next week.
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.