Governor Hochul Urges New Yorkers to Prepare for Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Wednesday Afternoon into Thursday

Parts of the Western New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Central New York Regions at Risk for Severe Storms Beginning Wednesday Afternoon, with Some Storms Containing Heavy Rain, Large Hail, and Damaging Winds

2-3 Inches of Rain Per Hour Are Possible in Areas of Southern Tier

Flash Flooding May Occur Hours After Rain Begins in Low-Lying Areas and Poor Drainage Areas

New Yorkers Urged To Use Caution and Stay Alert to Changing Conditions, Especially During Wednesday Evening Commute

Governor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers to prepare for potentially severe weather throughout upstate New York beginning Wednesday afternoon. This weather system is expected to produce heavy rain and thunderstorms that will impact parts of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, Central New York and especially the Southern Tier, where there is a potential for 2-3 inches of rainfall per hour. Not only could these storms produce rounds of heavy rain, some 1″ hail, and damaging winds, but given the storms’ slow speed, flash flooding could occur in low-lying areas and poor drainage areas within hours of rainfall.

New Yorkers are being urged to use extreme caution if they are traveling in an impacted area over the next 24 hours and to pay close attention to local forecasts.

“A mixed bag of heavy rain, high winds, and some hail are forecast to blanket the state beginning today and continuing overnight, which could cause flooding in certain areas,” Governor Hochul said. “I want New Yorkers to prepare for heavy rains as our State agencies are monitoring the forecast and ready to assist our fellow New Yorkers, if needed.”

Already, the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Cayuga, Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates counties through late Wednesday. Areas within the watch could see several rounds of thunderstorms producing between 1-3 inches of rain each. Excessive storm runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood prone locations.

For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert at https://alert.ny.gov, a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.

State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “This storm has the potential to drop a large amount of rain within a condensed timeframe. New Yorkers, especially those in the Southern Tier, need to be prepared. Flash flooding is a real threat in these situations, so if you find yourself in an area under a Flood Watch, stay alert, check on your loved ones and neighbors if safe to do so, and remember — never drive through a flooded roadway.”