BUFFALO, N.Y. — The National Weather Service in Buffalo issued a High Wind Watch ahead of a weather system that could bring rain and strong wind gusts Saturday. Friday that Watch was upgraded to High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories for all of Western New York.
A High Wind Warning is in effect until 5 a.m. Sunday for southern Erie and Chautauqua counties. Another High Wind Warning begins at 6 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 5 a.m. Sunday for northern Erie and Niagara counties. Southwesterly winds between 25 to 35 mph are possible with wind gusts up to 60 mph at times.
Because of the high winds, a Lakeshore Flood Warning has been issued for both Erie and Chautauqua counties from 8 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday.
Because of the high winds, we could see a rapid rise in water levels at the eastern end of Lake Erie that could cause lakeshore flooding. Flooding is possible along Route 5 in Hamburg, the Buffalo Harbor and Canalside, Dunkirk and other flood prone areas.
A Wind Advisory began at 6 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 5 a.m. Sunday for Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. Another Wind Advisory for McKean and Potter counties in northern Pennsylvania began at 6 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 5 a.m. Sunday. Southwesterly winds of similar strength with gusts up to 50 mph is expected.
Winds of this strength could lead to minor property damage, downed trees and power lines. Localized power outages are expected this weekend.
Another low pressure system will quickly spin up from the south tonight and first bring a wave of widespread precipitation along it's warm front. But with temperatures starting in the low-mid 30s Saturday morning, some of this precipitation could fall first as a mix of sleet, freezing rain and rain, but no ice accumulations are expected at this point as precipitation will quickly transition to rain.
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Then there will be a brief lull in precipitation as winds pick up Saturday afternoon. Southwesterly winds could gust between 45 to 55 mph throughout the day, upwards of 60 mph Saturday evening and into Sunday.
A few isolated showers and even a storm or two could pop up Saturday. Prior to winds picking up later tonight, there's the chance for a few strong to severe storms between 3 and 8 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch for McKean and Potter counties in northern Pennsylvania is in effect until 8 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center has this region under a slight risk for severe weather, so if storms grow and become severe they could potentially bring damaging winds, heavy rain and lots of lightning. Small hail and a quick, weak spin up tornado cannot be ruled out at this point, but both of those impacts are much lower than the other three.
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