A round of severe thunderstorms is expected to sweep across western and central New York Thursday afternoon into the evening, bringing the threat of damaging wind gusts and hail, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Forecasters say isolated to scattered storms could develop later in the day, with wind gusts potentially reaching up to 60 mph. There’s also a slight chance of quarter-sized hail, especially in areas where storms become more intense, said meteorologist Dan Kelly.
The Weather Service has placed much of the region under a marginal risk for severe weather, meaning a few strong storms are possible but likely to remain scattered.
Meanwhile, a warming trend is underway. Temperatures are expected to rise into the mid-80s °F (around 29 °C) on both Thursday and Friday, with a sharp jump into the 90s °F (above 32 °C) over the weekend, especially across upstate New York.
Conditions may change quickly, particularly in areas around Rochester, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes, where storms could arrive with little warning.
