Strong cold front leads to one of largest temperature drops on record

A strong cold front passed through the area on Tuesday which sent temperatures plummeting and led to one of the largest 36-hour temperature drops on record in Rochester.

Monday was a record-breaking day as high temperatures climbed into the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Cold Canadian air surged into the area behind a passing cold front on Tuesday as temperatures were sent plunging by late morning after highs for the day reached the upper 40s to low 50s.

Temperatures fell into the single digits overnight Tuesday into early Wednesday morning leading to one of the largest 36-hour temperature drops on record.

At 3:54 PM on Monday, the Rochester International Airport (RST) official observation site registered a temperature of 67°. At 3:54 AM on Wednesday, RST registered a temperature of 7°.

The 61° temperature drop within a 36-hour period is the second largest on record to only a 62° temperature drop from 43° to -19° that occurred on January 18, 1996.