Severe Thunderstorm Watch 494

 

 SEL4

   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 494
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   135 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

   The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

   * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of 
     Western and central New York
     Far northeast Pennsylvania
     Lake Erie
     Lake Ontario

   * Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 135 PM until
     900 PM EDT.

   * Primary threats include...
     Widespread damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
     Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
     A tornado or two possible

   SUMMARY...Clusters of storms and line segments are expected to
   spread east-southeastward across western and central New York
   through this evening.  Damaging gusts of 60-70 mph will be the
   primary severe threat, though embedded circulations could produce an
   isolated tornado or two.  Isolated large hail of 1.1.5 inches in
   diameter may also occur with the strongest storms.

   The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 60
   statute miles north and south of a line from 30 miles south
   southeast of Utica NY to 50 miles northwest of Jamestown NY. For a
   complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
   update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

   PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

   REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
   favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
   Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
   weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
   warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
   tornadoes.

   &&

   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 492...WW 493...

   AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
   1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
   few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
   30035.

   ...Thompson