Olean-area residents may be excused for feeling a bit of weather-related whiplash, as last week’s chilly and wet weather will be replaced with considerably hotter weather — Wednesday’s high may even flirt with 90.
“The week looks great, at least through Wednesday,” said David Thomas, a meteorologist at the Buffalo office of the National Weather Service. “We’ll get a taste of summer’s heat.”
Tuesday will bring plenty of sunshine, with clear skies expected and a high in the low 80s. Wednesday will be warmer still, with mostly sunny skies and a high in the upper 80s likely.
A cold front will move through the area Wednesday night, possibly bringing some rain showers early. Thursday will be a little more temperate, with a high in the mid-70s and some late-day thunderstorms possible.
Friday will be overcast with rain showers and some thunderstorms and a high around 70.
“The second half of May was dominated by upper level lows that would just sit over our area and move very slowly. … That led to cloudy conditions and high temperatures that were on the average five degrees below normal. That pattern has changed; weather systems are a little bit more progressive now,” explained Thomas. This is allowing the heat from the south to push its way northward.”
Looking ahead to the coming weekend, some rain showers will linger Saturday morning, but they should clear out and be replaced with some sunshine as the day goes on. The high will be around 70. Sunday is currently forecast to be partly cloudy with a high in the low- to mid-70s.