Winter Chill Lingers in Rochester for Next 36 Hours

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A pair of cold fronts moving through Western New York will bring a sharp drop in temperatures, with the Rochester area seeing a mix of rain and wet snow showers on Sunday that could leave a light dusting of snow overnight. Temperatures will struggle to reach 40 degrees on Monday before a return to more seasonable mid-to-upper 50s by Tuesday.

Why it matters

The sudden shift from unseasonably warm to unseasonably cold weather is a common occurrence in the Rochester region, where dramatic temperature swings are typical during the spring transition. While not highly unusual, the cold snap could disrupt outdoor activities and impact sensitive plants or crops.

The details

After an unseasonably warm Saturday, the first of two cold fronts arrived in the Rochester area on Saturday evening, with a second front expected to pass through on Sunday night. This rapid temperature drop will result in a mix of rain and wet snow showers on Sunday, with the potential for a light dusting of snow on grassy surfaces overnight as temperatures fall into the upper 20s. Highs on Monday will only reach around 40 degrees, well below the typical mid-50s for this time of year, before a return to more seasonable mid-to-upper 50s by Tuesday through Thursday.

• The first cold front arrived in Rochester on Saturday evening.
• A second cold front is expected to pass through Western New York on Sunday night.
• Overnight Sunday into Monday, temperatures could drop into the upper 20s, leading to a light dusting of snow on grassy surfaces.
• Monday's high temperature will struggle to reach 40 degrees.
• By Tuesday through Thursday, temperatures are forecast to return to a more seasonable mid-to-upper 50s.