Tropical Storm ‘Sandy’ Impact on Southern Tier Still A Question Mark

Sunday afternoon brings some light rain across the Southern Tier of New York.  The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch and Wind Warning across the Southern Tier of New York.  While we will get some heavy rain, more serious flooding may occur more in NorthEast Pennsylvania.

Here is what WBNG Storm Tracker Weather is saying:

Sunday Night: Cloudy, showers likely, especially late.  Low: 45
Monday: Cloudy with rain beginning late and winds picking up. High: 52

Discussion:

HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM MONDAY TO 5 PM EDT TUESDAYSUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 TO 60 MPH... ESPECIALLY OVER HIGHER TERRAIN. WINDS WILL INCREASE MONDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES. THE STRONG WINDS WILL ALSO CAUSE TREES TO FALL RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND CLOSED ROADS.
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENINGHEAVY RAIN FROM THE LAND FALLING HURRICANE SANDY WILL BEGIN MONDAY AND CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY. RAINFALL TOTALS AVERAGING 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE WATCH AREA... WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND URBAN AREAS. PROLONGED HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE RISES ON AREA RIVERS AND MAY CAUSE MINOR TO MODERATE FLOODING BEGINNING TUESDAY.

From Earlier today:

Organized showers continue to hold off to our west for much of the day today.  Sandy's moisture begins to enter the Mid Atlantic and New England coast.  As this happens, Rain will increase and become more widespread through the next 24 hours.

Previous discussion follows:
A stationary front and it’s showers will retreat back to the west through Sunday as Sandy approaches the Mid-Atlantic.  Clouds will continue their hold and light showers will have the chance to move in and out, again most of the precip will fall west of I-81.  Highs will reach the mid 50’s and overnight lows will be in the middle 40’s.
At this time, Sandy is expected to make landfall late Monday night near the New Jersey or Delaware shoreline.  Wind and rain will pick up across our region and become more widespread, especially Monday night through Tuesday.  Models are showing the center of the intense system moving into Southern PA by Tuesday morning.
A significant rain and wind event is very likely at this point.  Forecast models predict the highest amounts of rain to fall in NE PA and the Western Catskills, although all areas will likely see heavy downpours and several inches of rain.  The largest threats will be flash flooding and high winds.  With sustained high winds and strong gusts, power outages are possible, if not likely.  Be sure to prepare for this possibility.  Minor flooding may occur, but this usually does not have widespread property and structural implications.