Accuweather forecaster predicts below-normal temps, above-normal snowfall

After record warmth in October and a sudden freeze-up in November, you might be wondering what surprises winter has in store for the Northern Seacoast.

According to a senior Accuweather meteorologist, the Greater Rochester area can look for a pattern of below average temperatures and above average snowfall in the coming months.

Accuweather's extended forecast this past week showed what appeared to be a milder-than-normal winter ahead, but is based on a computer model with a "bias toward warmer temperatures," Senior Accuweather Meteorologist Dave Samuhel said on Friday.

When we looked on forecasts through Feb. 11, we found the lowest high to be 21 on several days in January and lastly on Feb. 3, with the lowest low of 2 on Feb. 1.

But Samuhel said forget about that, because it's going to be a lot colder and a lot snowier.

"There's a huge blanked of snow up in Canada," he said, which will pave the way for a pattern of cold temps and frequent snowstorms in the months to come.

While Samuhels had no predictions of possible mega-storms, he did predict "an active storm track with frequent storm systems" turning up on a regular basis throughout the winter.

Meanwhile, today's high of 57 will be the highest for the rest of the month, and Wednesday's high of 53 will be the time we see 50, at least for a while.

Another short-term newsworthy note: There's a wind advisory with gusts up to 45 mph this afternoon and evening.