SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After some torrential rainfall rates Friday afternoon and evening in parts of Central New York, another round or two of heavy thunderstorms could bring a renewed risk for flash flooding today.
There is plenty of available moisture in the air, as you can feel the humidity, almost wear it this morning and midday. With the heating of the day and an approaching cold front, I expect scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms to develop from west to east midday, and then increase early to mid-afternoon. Heavy rainfall is the primary threat with a lower potential for strong winds. All of the area has to be watching the sky for this storm threat, but the best chance looks to be around Onondaga County and points east and southeast.
Here’s the map from NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center highlighting the low flood threat in the northeast, including all of CNY. The risk is greatest locally between 1 PM and 7 PM Saturday.
Here’s the map from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center highlighting the low severe thunderstorm risk for parts of the northeast. Locally, we are not included as the risk is very low for wind damage between 12 PM and 6 PM Saturday.
Here’s the forecast high temperature map for Saturday showing most places will top out in the lower to middle 80s, with cooler readings near 80 for some higher elevations. Do note, the humidity will be running very high for Saturday, making a maximum heat index for most places in CNY between the upper 80s and near 90 at times.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy to a mix of sun and clouds at times, with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms developing, especially in the middle afternoon. A few storms could be severe with damaging wind gusts and flash flooding. Still feeling hot at times with very high humidity, and a bit breezy in the afternoon. Wind: SW-W 5-15 with gusts to 20+ MPH. High: 85, but feeling like 90…