Flood watch issued for upstate NY ahead of storm

With remnants of Tropical Storm Debby and another storm system expected to converge and dump heavy rain on the Rochester region this week, what areas are at risk for flooding? According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, "very heavy rainfall" is expected over central and eastern New York (including parts of the Finger Lakes region) Friday into Friday night.

Flood watch issued in Rochester NY region

Parts of Ontario, Wayne and Cayuga counties are under a flood watch - as are other parts of the Empire State - from Friday morning through Saturday morning, due to the predicted excessive rainfall, according to the Weather Service. The same flood watch also covers Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

Forecasters said that excessive runoff may cause in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks.

How much rain could Rochester NY get?

In the Rochester region and upstate New York, anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rainfall are predicted, with localized amounts possible in the 6-inch range. This could cause some flash flooding or river flooding risks, forecasters said.

Flood watch issued in upstate NY

A flood watch is also in effect Friday parts of the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier, including in Seneca, Steuben and Yates counties.

Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins counties are all under a flood watch between Friday morning and Friday night, according to the Weather Service.

The Weather Service also issued flood watches throughout other parts of eastern and northern New York, including in Herkimer, Hamilton, Montgomery, Warren, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties. That watch runs from Friday morning through Saturday morning.

Major flooding threat shifts to the Northeast

AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham is urging people in valleys and other flood-prone areas across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast to prepare for the possibility of flash floods as some areas may see as much as 4 to 8 inches of rain from the remnants of Debby.

"People should be prepared to seek higher ground and to know of an evacuation route and have a plan in place," warned Buckingham.

Along with the threat of flash flooding and beach hazards, AccuWeather expert meteorologists say families and businesses along Debby’s path should be prepared for potential power outages and major travel impacts.

AccuWeather predicts around 5,100 flight cancellations between Thursday and Saturday, according to a news release from the agency.

Rochester weather radar

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester NY Weather: Flood watch, warnings issued for region