Bitter Cold Weather For Valentine’s Weekend

We have been so lucky with the weather this winter in the Southern Tier.  While skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts are getting more than a little antsy with last week's prediction from the groundhog, others are celebrating the mild winter that will likely go down in Binghamton weather history as one of the warmest winters on record.  Well that's about to change.

Just now, our chief meteorologist and nice-guy Howard Manges from WBNG- TV warns of an arctic air flow arriving in the Greater Binghamton area this week and that means some of the coldest temperatures of the winter.

Most of the week will see snow showers.  According to Howard, by Wednesday, the chance of snow is 60%. Accumulations should be light – at less than 1”. An arctic cold front will cross the area Wednesday night and temperatures will have a hard time hitting 20 Thursday. Thursday looks windy and there should be some lake effect snow developing off Lake Ontario and Erie. Wind direction will be critical in determining where the snow bands develop. The chance of snow is 40% for now.

Friday will be a bit ‘warmer’ with highs in the low to mid 20s. Lake effect snow showers may still be ongoing. Friday night, into early Saturday morning, a clipper system (fast moving low pressure) may bring some light snow and snow squalls to us.  And then it gets interesting, as temperatures will plummet this weekend.

Just in time for Valentines Day, Saturday and Sunday look to be windy and bitterly cold. Highs both days will struggle to hit 10 with overnight lows below zero. Add in the wind both days and wind chills could be as low as minus 20 to minus 25 at times. The cold will retreat quickly; Monday’s highs are expected to be back in the low 20s. Lake effect snow showers are possible both weekend days.

Forecast snapshot:

>  Daily chance of snow showers this week.
>  Accumulations by Wednesday evening will likely range from 1-3” for most areas.
>  As advertised, much colder weather arrives later this week.
>  Upcoming weekend high temperatures may stay in the single digits; sub-zero overnights.
>  Wind chills this weekend could be as low as 20 to 25 below zero.
>  Could be some significant lake effect snow later this week
>  Appears heaviest snow will be east of Lake Ontario; some uncertainty however.

Stay with the HAWK all week for weather updates, but right now, make plans to prepare for a bitter cold weekend.