Tornado Watch, Wind Advisory In Effect For Monday Afternoon

Forecasters are calling for showers and thunderstorms in the Albany Region throughout the day Monday, some could be severe and even produce a tornado.

The National Weather Service has issued a TORNADO WATCH until 5:00 PM today.

According to the NWS:

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL IMPACT EASTERN NEW YORK THIS AFTERNOON
WITH THE POTENTIAL OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE GREATEST
THREAT FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS PRODUCING
WINDS OF 58 MPH AND GREATER. HOWEVER...AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS
POSSIBLE. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL UNTIL 5 PM. THE TIME
FRAME FOR THE GREATEST POTENTIAL OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
BETWEEN NOON AND 5 PM.

There is also a WIND ADVISORY in effect until 8:00 PM tonight. Winds could reach 20 to 30 MPH with gust up to 50 MPH.

Highs will be in the Mid-70's today in the midst of the potential storms. Lows will reach the Mid-40's tonight with a 60% chance of rain. The forecast calls for the storms to move out of the area by 7:00 PM.

Keep it locked on Q103 for further updates as the storms reach the Albany Region.

According to the RED CROSS, here are the following things you should do in preparation for a possible Tornado:

• During any storm, listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.
• Know your community's warning system. Communities have different ways of warning residents about tornados, with many having sirens intended for outdoor warning purposes.
• Pick a safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
• Practice periodic tornado drills so that everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching.
• Consider having your safe room reinforced. Plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection can be found on the FEMA web site.
• Prepare for high winds by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees.
• Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile.
• Watch for tornado danger signs: Dark, often greenish clouds – a phenomenon caused by hail, Wall cloud – an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm, Cloud of debris, Large hail, Funnel cloud – a visible rotating extension of the cloud base, Roaring noise