Rochester, N.Y. – Flash flooding threatens communities from Rochester and Syracuse to the Mohawk Valley today as slow-moving thunderstorms dump heavy rain across central and western New York. Streets, creeks, and rivers could rise rapidly, especially in urban areas, as rainfall totals may exceed an inch per hour in some locations.
According to the National Weather Service, a Flood Watch remains in effect from 11 a.m. Sunday through late tonight for Monroe, Wayne, Oswego, Lewis, Livingston, Ontario, Allegany, Oneida, Onondaga, Steuben, Tompkins, Madison, Yates, Schuyler, Seneca, Cayuga, and southern Herkimer counties. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms are likely, with the greatest risk for flash flooding between mid-afternoon and midnight.
Roads such as I-90, I-81, and NY-104 near Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica are at risk for closures or delays if water rises quickly. Local emergency agencies urge residents in flood-prone spots—including Geneseo, Canandaigua, Wellsville, Rome, Ithaca, and Mohawk—to avoid driving through high water and to prepare for possible power outages. Poor drainage in cities like Buffalo and Albany could also create sudden urban flooding.
If you live in a basement apartment or a low-lying area, have an evacuation plan and charge devices now. Keep an eye on weather alerts—flash flood warnings may be issued with little notice. This event marks one of the most widespread July flood watches for the region since 2021.
Flooding risk will persist through the early morning hours Monday. Additional watches or warnings may be posted if rainfall intensity increases.
