Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A return to unsettled weather begins Monday, with rounds of rainfall and potentially severe storms crossing the Western New York region in the afternoon and evening.
Some of these storms may produce locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds through the afternoon into the evening, with these drenching thunderstorms continuing the heavy rain threat through the overnight hours, National Weather Service forecasters say.
A Flood Watch is posted for southern Erie County and the southern tier through early Tuesday.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties until 10 p.m.
"We have the potential for some severe storms, especially south and east of Buffalo," NWS meteorologist Steve Welch tells WBEN. "Generally early afternoon through early evening for Western New York."
Strong wind gusts and locally very heavy downpours will accompany these storms at times.
While the storms and flood threat will fade overnight into Tuesday, some unsettled weather will be in the forecast for much of the coming week.
AccuWeather.com
"We dry out later on tonight, into tomorrow," Welch says. "Tomorrow we have a few showers, and then midweek we dry out, but more showers later on in the week."
Looking ahead to the weekend, forecasters say a weather system will enhance chances for showers and thunderstorms Friday through the weekend. More to come on that as the timing becomes more clear.
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE...A portion of western New York, including the following counties, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Southern Erie, Wayne and Wyoming.
* WHEN...From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through late tonight.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
