Governor Hochul Urges New Yorkers To Prepare for Enhanced Risk of Severe Thunderstorms With Damaging Winds on Sunday

Areas in Southern Tier and Mid-Hudson Regions, Including Catskills, Could See Heavy Rains and Wind Gusts Up to or Exceeding 70 MPH

Power Outages and Hazardous Travel Likely Starting Sunday Afternoon

Large Hail and Chance of Isolated Tornados May Accompany Any Severe Storms 

Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to prepare for an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms with potentially damaging winds on Sunday. A weather system moving across the state Sunday is expected to produce severe thunderstorms with potentially damaging winds in the afternoon, especially for areas in the Southern Tier and Mid-Hudson regions, including the Catskills. Strong winds with gusts up to or more than 70 mph are possible, as well as heavy rain, hail, and the chance of isolated tornados. Power outages and hazardous travel are likely, and damaging winds may occur with any thunderstorms that develops outside of the forecasted areas for severe impacts.

"We're closely monitoring severe thunderstorms and damaging winds that are expected to move across the state and present hazardous travel conditions," Governor Hochul said. "I urge New Yorkers to monitor their local forecasts and take proper precautions as the weather unfolds."

New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert at https://alert.ny.gov, a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer. For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at https://alerts.weather.gov.       

Safety Tips

Prepare for severe weather:

• Know the county in which you live and the names of nearby cities. Severe weather warnings are issued on a county basis.
• Learn the safest route from your home or business to high, safe ground should you have to leave in a hurry.
• Develop and practice a 'family escape' plan and identify a meeting place if family members become separated.
• Make an itemized list of all valuables including furnishings, clothing and other personal property. Keep the list in a safe place.
• Stockpile emergency supplies of canned food, medicine and first aid supplies and drinking water. Store drinking water in clean, closed containers.
• Plan what to do with your pets.
• Have a portable radio, flashlights, extra batteries and emergency cooking equipment available.
• Keep your automobile fueled. If electric power is cut off, gasoline stations may not be able to pump fuel for several days. Have a small disaster supply kit in the trunk of your car.

Have disaster supplies on hand, including:

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
• First aid kit and manual
• Emergency food and water
• Non-electric can opener
• Essential medicines
• Checkbook, cash, credit cards, ATM cards

For more safety tips, visit the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Safety Tips web page at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/safety.