UPDATED: Power outages in Warren County. Gusts heavy. (2024)

POST-STAR STAFF REPORT

UPDATE Aug. 10, 7 a.m.: National Grid is reporting nearly 5,500 people without power in Warren County this morning after the remains of Hurricane Debby poured through. Washington County is faring better with 700-some people powerless. The National Weather Service reported a tornado in New Paltz. About 30 yards wide, it cut a trail over a half-mile long.

The data is still coming in and some has to be confirmed, but the weather service said this morning that 2.72 inches of rain fell in Brant Lake by 5:03 p.m. yesterday afternoon; 2.63 inches fell by 6:18 p.m. in Queensbury. Whitehall saw 1.36 inches 6:06 p.m.

Wind gusts were high, but not like the mid-July storms. Route 9N was blocked by downed trees north of Bolton.

"We had some fairly gusty winds yesterday," Abbey Gant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany.

Washington County's highest gust was 29 mph. Warren County saw a gust of 47 mph. Gant warned that this data is preliminary.

CORRECTION: Aug. 10, 6a.m.: We inadvertently posted the headline that a tornado "warning" had been issued. That was incorrect. A tornado "watch" had been issued. A watch indicates that the conditions in the atmosphere can produce a tornado while a warning indicates that one has been spotted. For more: https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-ww

UPDATE, Aug. 9, 3 p.m.: A tornado watch was issued for much of the Capital Region Friday afternoon including Warren and Washington counties, runs until 10 p.m. meteorologist Rosemary Webb with the National Weather Service Albany said Friday afternoon.

“For Washington and Warren counties, the rain showers are going to be more towards the west and south, and they are going to be continuing to move into our region for the next five to six hours,” Webb said. “Then they will diminish after about 6 p.m. tonight.”

There is a chance for severe thunderstorms in the area Friday afternoon and into the evening until about 6 p.m. Webb said.

“A tornado watch has been issued in coordination with the Storm Prediction Center,” Webb said. “That’s until 10 p.m. tonight, but for our area it’s primarily going to be from now until about 6 or 8 p.m.”

The rainfall total on Friday is estimated one to one-and-a-half inches of rain, Webb said.

Once the storm clears Friday night, Saturday is looking like it will be a much clearer day, Webb said.

“All this is remnants of Tropical Storm Debby,” Webb said.

Webb encouraged everyone to be aware of the weather for the next several hours, and stay safe.

Original post, Aug. 9, 6 a.m.: The National Weather Service has been tracking the course of the storm that was Hurricane Debby and is indicating that all of the North Country will be caught in the swath of "moderate" rainfall, a lane of rain and wind that carries with it only a slight risk of a bigger storm.

"A period of moderate to locally heavy rainfall will occur across the region

beginning midday Friday and continuing through Friday night," a report from the NWS Thursday morning said.

By deadline Thursday afternoon, the weather service had updated their severe weather warning, which includes heavy winds and the possibility of a tornado.

"The threat of severe thunderstorms has extended...through the Adirondacks,"said Joe Villani, a meteorologist at the Albany office of the National Weather Service.

It's a "marginal" risk, about a 1-out-of-five risk, and the greater Glens Falls area could see about 1.5 or two inches of rain on Friday while the Adirondacks may see as much as three inches, he added.

The storm is not expected to linger over the area, and so the area misses some of the very heavy rainfall seen in southern states.

"It's going to be moving through pretty quick," he said.

The weather service is warning the region of the potential for flash flooding, and Villani reiterated that.

At deadline Thursday afternoon, the weather service's flood watch web site showed only one location that was nearing flood level, a section of the Sacandaga River at Hope that is expected to reach the lowest flood stage.

Villani said they remained confident that the likelihood of river flooding was low in our area. According to a report from the NWS, river flooding is much more likely south and west of our readership area, especially in the Mohawk Valley.

A report from the weather service says that the flooding may occur until a few days later as the water collects and flows down into larger water bodies.

Still, Villani said that flashflooding is more likely.

"A Flood Watch has been issued for the western and central Mohawk Valley and southern Adirondacks from 8 a.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday," the report from the weather service says.

"Excessive rainfall and runoff may result in ponding of water in urban, low-lying, and other poor-drainage areas as well as possible flash flooding. Some main stem river flooding is possible as runoff drains downstream," a statement from the NWS says.

The weather service says to expect showers and thunderstorms especially after 11 a.m. on Friday. Otherwise, the day will be cloudy, with a high near 78. A light east wind becomes southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

"There is additionally a Marginal Risk for severe weather and a few tornadoes Friday afternoon to evening as the remnant low of Debby makes its nearest approach," the weather service says in its outlook

By Friday night, the weather service says to expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm.

"Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 69. Southeast wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible," the NWS website said just before deadline on Thursday afternoon.