The National Weather Service in Buffalo, New York has issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for northern Cattaraugus (updated: this has since expired) and northwestern Allegany Counties. The primary criterion for severe in this case is strong winds in excess of 60 miles per hour. A separate severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Warren County, PA from the NWS office in State College, PA. No criterion was given. This is part of a line of thunderstorms stretching across much of Western New York from southwest to northeast. There appears to be some bowing and mesoscale influence well to the east in the Finger Lakes, so if you’re there, pay close attention for possibly even more severe weather. The entire stretch of this storm has the potential for extensive cloud-to-ground lightning, which, although there’s no NWS protocol for it, is still very dangerous. Stay tuned to your preferred choice of weather information for the latest updates.

~J.M. Fuller