Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Dutchess, Ulster counties

A large section of central and eastern New York is under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. 

National Weather Service meteorologist Samantha Lankowicz said damaging winds, which could reach up to 50 mph in some areas of the Hudson Valley, are the storm's biggest threat. Scattered flooding remains a concern as well, with rainfall rates possibly reaching up to 2 inches per hour.

The storms are still expected to taper off around midnight or 1 a.m. Lingering showers may remain into Wednesday morning, but any lingering rain is expected to be light.

Heavy rain could bring flash flooding to the Hudson Valley as showers and storms roll through the region Tuesday.

Real-time updates: Weather across upstate | Extreme weather risks | Power outages across New York

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Dutchess, Ulster counties

3:25 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for southeastern Ulster and central Dutchess counties until 4:30 p.m. 

The storm is now located over Highland, near New Paltz, and is moving northeast at 20 mph. Tornadoes can quickly develop from severe thunderstorms; the same area is under a tornado warning.

Large hail, damaging wind and cloud-to-ground lightning has been reported with the storm. Hail will likely damage vehicles, and wind could damage roofs, siding and trees. Heavy rain may cause flash flooding. - Erica Smith

Thunderstorms moving through Ulster, Dutchess counties

3:05 p.m.: Strong thunderstorms are moving through southeastern Ulster and west-central Dutchess counties for the next 40 minutes.

The National Weather Service is tracking a cluster of storms that are now over Modena, 7 miles north of Walden and moving northeast at 20 mph.

The storm brings several threats: heavy rain, wind gusts up to 55 mph and localized flooding. Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning also has been reported. The storm may intensify. The same area is under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. - Erica Smith

Tornado watch issued for Hudson Valley

2:10 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for a large area that includes Columbia, Dutchess, Fulton, Greene, Herkimer, Montgomery, Orange, Putnam, Schoharie and Ulster counties.

National Weather Service meteorologist Samantha Lankowicz said damaging winds, which could reach up to 50 mph in some areas of the Hudson Valley, are the storm's biggest threat. Scattered flooding remains a concern as well, with rainfall rates possibly reaching up to 2 inches per hour.

The storms are still expected to taper off around midnight or 1 a.m. Lingering showers may remain into Wednesday morning, but any lingering rain is expected to be light.

A tornado watch is issued by the Storm Prediction Center when conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form - it does not mean tornadoes have been spotted. A tornado warning is the more dire advisory, and means there is an imminent threat.

The watch is in effect until 9 p.m. - Erica Smith and Max Rosen

Tornado warnings active in Broome, Chenango, Delaware counties

2:05 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for southeastern Broome County, west-central Delaware County, and south-central Chenango County until 2:15 p.m.

At 1:44 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Sanitaria Springs, 11 miles east of Binghamton, and was moving east at 40 mph. In addition to heavy rain, quarter-size hail has been reported.

There also are active tornado warnings in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

A tornado carved a 15-mile path through Delaware and Broome counties on Saturday. - Erica Smith

Rain expected to return to Hudson Valley this afternoon

12:15 p.m.: After substantial showers this morning, more rain is expected to sweep across the Hudson Valley this afternoon.

National Weather Service meteorologist Luke Winand said rain is expected to pick back up after 2 p.m. and continue through the evening before letting up in the early morning hours. There is potential for thunderstorms to mix in throughout that period.

This morning's rain totals varied across the region from around a quarter of an inch to just over an inch. Tannersville has seen 1.03 inches in the last six hours, while High Falls - about 25 miles south - has seen just 0.33 inches, according to Winand.

The possibility of flooding during storms later today remains, though the National Weather Service has not deemed the risk high enough to issue any flood watches or alerts. They will continue to monitor throughout the day to determine if the risk of flooding grows. - Max Rosen

Storms moving into Hudson Valley

11:20 a.m.: Doppler radar is tracking a cluster of strong thunderstorms moving through Putnam and Westchester counties. But all of the storms won't stay that far south.

Several rounds of storms are expected Tuesday afternoon and evening. While the greatest threat is in the mid-Hudson Valley, the Capital Region will see additional storms, too. - Erica Smith

Chances of flash flooding

9 a.m.: The mid-Hudson Valley, including areas around Poughkeepsie, will have a higher chance for flash flooding, Christina Speciale, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Albany, said Tuesday. Showers are expected to begin south of the Capital Region in the morning, with scattered showers starting up again around 2 or 3 p.m. until midnight. The Capital Region could see a half an inch to an inch of rain, and the Hudson Valley could see up to 2 inches.

"There could be some brief instances of localized ponding, water pooling up," Speciale said of areas with older infrastructure, such as downtown Albany, Amsterdam and Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland.

There is also a slight risk for severe weather, particularly damaging winds.

After weeks of high temperatures, storms, wildfire smoke and at least one tornado, the region is forecast to finally have some mild weather later this week, with clear skies and temperatures only reaching the upper 70s and low 80s, Speciale said. - H.R. Schneider

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