The dangerous arctic airmass gripping Central New York will gradually loosen its hold Monday, though wind chills will remain dangerously cold through Monday morning.
An extreme cold warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. Sunday, transitioning to a cold weather advisory that continues until 10 a.m. Monday.
Wind chills ranging from minus 20 to minus 30 degrees this morning will slowly improve but remain in the minus 10 to minus 20 degree range through Monday morning. The National Weather Service warns these conditions can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
Temperatures on Sunday will climb slowly through the single digits before dropping again tonight. North to northwest winds will continue to produce light snow showers downstream of Lake Ontario and in the Finger Lakes, with localized accumulations possible.
Relief arrives Monday afternoon as the arctic air retreats. The Syracuse Hancock International Airport has recorded 16 consecutive days with temperatures below 32 degrees, but Tuesday offers the first chance to climb above freezing.
National Weather Service
A weak clipper system will track through the region Tuesday morning, bringing a band of light snow from the Finger Lakes eastward along the New York Thruway corridor. Oneida County may see one to two inches of enhanced snowfall due to terrain, with lower amounts elsewhere.
Behind the morning snow Tuesday, spotty precipitation may develop in the warmer air mass. Mid-level warming, combined with marginal surface temperatures and cold ground, could produce patchy freezing rain and drizzle for a few hours before a cold front moves through.
Light lake effect snow showers may linger into the middle of the week as temperatures return closer to normal seasonal values.