BUFFALO, N.Y. — Saturday was the nicest day of Labor Day weekend with calm and sunny weather. This was before two fronts moved through Sunday and brought with it more unsettled weather.
Scattered showers Sunday morning brought around a quarter of an inch of rain on average to Western New York. The forecast has cleared since, thanks to a cold front that moved through shortly after, but a gusty breeze has picked up and will continue into Labor Day. Winds will be out of the west/southwest at 10 to 20 mph with wind gusts up to 25 mph at times, especially along the lakefront.
Labor Day will also be off to a rainy start as isolated storms track from west to east across Western New York in the morning. Rain timeframe will be similar to Sunday's, with storms moving in as early as 5 a.m. and lasting through Noon at the latest. But this time around, thunder, lightning, gusty winds and brief heavy rainfall is expected.
It'll dry out after that in the afternoon with high temperatures reaching the low 70s under a partly cloudy sky. Winds will stay gusty until late Monday night too.
These conditions are not going to make for the best boating days on Lake Erie or Ontario Sunday or Monday. Besides the rain and storm chance, the gusty breeze could be up to 20 knots and wave heights could range between 2 to 4 feet.
A Beach Hazard Statement will be in effect on Labor Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the shores of Niagara, Orleans, southern Erie and Chautauqua counties. The National Weather Service is highlighting the potential for "life threatening waves" and the development of strong rip currents.
It's important to remember that showers both Sunday and Monday will be hit or miss. Some areas will indeed stay dry while others get a quick soaking. This will be a good weekend to have the WGRZ app on your phone so you can check the radar wherever you are.
