JAMESTOWN – The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Chautauqua and northwestern Cattaraugus Counties until 5:00 PM.
An extension of the Flash Flood Warning now goes into 6:00 PM for northern Cattaraugus County.
The original warning was issued just a little after 1:30 PM, for a line of showers and thunderstorms that bubbled up near Ripley. This line of storms have been producing torrential rainfall, with Doppler radar estimating rain totals over one and half inches.
There is also a less than average Marginal Risk (1/5) for severe thunderstorms this afternoon, with the primary threat being gusty winds. Remember that a thunderstorm is classified as “severe” if it is producing wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher or hail one inch in diameter or larger, which is about the size of a Quarter.
We are still expecting a few more scattered showers and storms for Tuesday, with the humidity still very well in play.
Independence Day Forecast: For our 4th of July, we’re still expecting a few lingering showers and storms, with near oppressive humidity once again. Keep in mind that it won’t be raining all the time, there will be some times of sunshine in between the rain. Just keep the the radar handy on your phone, and when you hear thunder, head indoors and wait out the rain.
Beyond the 4th, we do see a pretty strong front moving into Western New York by Friday, and that will give us some much needed relief from the heat and the humidity, right through the weekend.
