Slight Severe Weather Threat for WNY Today

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Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Increased heat and humidity may lead to the potential for severe weather across parts of Western New York today. 

A front of locally heavy showers and thunderstorms will sweep from the upper Ohio Valley into the northeast and will mark the arrival of this warmer weather.

VIEW:  Latest Watches and Warnings impacting Buffalo Region

 

High temperatures will return to the upper 70s to middle 80s on Thursday across upstate New York and fuel the potential for severe thunderstorms and the slight risk of tornado activity, particularly across the southern tier portion of Western New York.

At the National Weather Service in Buffalo, meteorologist Bob Hamilton tells WBEN,  "the greatest amount of storms and the strongest ones should be south and east of Buffalo across the southern tier". 

Slight risk of severe storms still on track for today. Storms are most likely from 11 AM to 5 PM. Plan ahead and have a way to receive warnings in case they are issued! #nywx pic.twitter.com/xEsNgiCxMo

— NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) May 23, 2019

As for any chance of tornado activity across the Western New York region, meteorologist Brett Edwards tells WBEN, "right now that is still a potential, right now I am leaning toward the chance of a low end potential...the best chance would be farther to the south".

Hamilton tells WBEN, "One thing you need for tornadic activity....is to have some wind shear involved and there's going to be a lot of wind shear in the atmosphere".  "There'll be a higher risk for super-cell or tornadic activity than we typically have.  It's not a high risk, but it's higher than what we would normally see", adds Hamilton.

Wind gusts will be strong at times through the afternoon at 40 to 50 mph at times.

The severe weather won't compare to the treacherous storms that have plagued parts of the south and plains.