»
Home > Monroe County > NWS: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Finger Lakes

NWS: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Finger Lakes

Published:

Latest – 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the entire region until 9 p.m. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop and move eastward along a frontal boundary. The clash of cooler, dry air – along with the warm, muggy air ahead of the front is creating enough instability to prompt a watch.

The biggest threat with these storms will be damaging winds. Separate of the storms, the entire region remains in a Wind Advisory until early morning on Saturday. Winds could gust in excess of 50 mph. Severe warned storms could have wind gusts significantly higher than the advisory, so be sure to watch individual warnings that pop up for storms this evening.

For the latest warnings and advisories visit the National Weather Service’s resource page here.

Morning Report

There’s an elevated risk for strong to severe thunderstorms on Friday, according to forecasters in the Finger Lakes.

FLX Weather Meteorologist Drew Montreuil said “Environmental conditions are more favorable for severe thunderstorms today compared to yesterday with strong wind fields aloft and an increase in moisture at the surface.” He said that atmospheric instability remains the uncertainty. “Instability is a key ingredient that is necessary for thunderstorms to quickly develop and grow. Yesterday, the atmosphere generally remained stable and unfavorable for thunderstorm development. As a result, there was only one severe storm in our area between Elmira and Binghamton.”

He says that waves of energy in the atmosphere and an approaching cold front will possibly trigger lines of thunderstorms during the late-afternoon and early-evening hours. If that instability is persistent enough, severe thunderstorms will be possible.

“Damaging winds will again be the primary threat,” Montreuil explained. “There is a small hail and tornado threat, mostly limited to any storm cells that remain isolated by themselves.”

The National Weather Service has also issued a wind advisory for the entire region, which runs until 2 a.m. The main threat for wind will be associated with the approaching cold front, which will dry out the air just in time for the weekend. Gusts in excess of 50 mph are possible.

Read more about the threat on Friday, and the clearing out that will take place this weekend here.

Visit the FingerLakes1.com Weather Center for the latest forecast information.

Also on FingerLakes1.com