A State of Emergency has been declared in the village of Gowanda in Cattaraugus County following Tuesday morning's flash flooding and heavy downpours.The National Weather Service has extended the Flash Flood Warning for parts of the Southern Tier in northwester Cattaraugus County, northeastern Chautauqua County. That includes of the cities of Dunkirk and Fredonia in southern Erie County.
Flash flooding from heavy showers and thunderstorms that moved across the region earlier Tuesday morning have led to reported evacuations in Silver Creek in Chautauqua County. Some roads are impassable. Cattaraugus County Sheriff's said there should be no unnecessary travel.
Some roads are shut down to major flash flooding, that includes Route 39 to Route 62 in the Village of Gowanda. Route 242 is shut down Little Valley to Coldspring, Route 353 closed in the Village of Cattaraugus and Route 62 is also closed in Dayton.
In Erie County, Route 5 is closed in both directions from Route 20 to Old Lake Shore Road due to flooding in the Town of Brant.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Dan Kelly tells WBFO News in Chautaqua County more than two-and-a-half inches of rain has fallen near Forestville.
In Cattaraugus County Kelly said the Town of New Albion has received nearly three-inches of rain so far Tuesday.
"That's the highest amount," said Kelly. "It's a pretty good amount of rain, and with the hilly terrain that kind of concentrates it in the lower areas."