Hot and humid temperatures will blanket all of western New York over the next few days. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Genesee and Orleans counties until 9 p.m. Tuesday as the heat index is expected to hit 100.
Meteorologist Jim Mitchell says temperatures will be in the mid to high 80’s across the region Tuesday.
“Erie and Niagara County, and our Southern Tier are not in the heat advisory, although we are still going to expect a heat index that’s up around 95. So, you’re really not going to feel much of a difference. It’s still going to be really hot, really humid. The reason for that especially over the Southern Tier is the high elevation. It’s not quite as warm down there. For us here in Erie and Niagara County we’re going to have the influence off Lake Erie. So that will help us keep a little bit cooler, thus not reaching that 100 degree mark on the index category, which triggers the advisory,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell says there’s a chance of wind and showers developing Tuesday afternoon, as well as isolated showers late in the evening.
“We do have a chance for severe weather today, but the lake influence will keep those chances less in the Buffalo area, Northern Erie County, Niagara County, inside that lake shadow we’ll have a little bit more stable with our temperatures not getting as warm. But, over the Southern Tier we’ll have chances for more widespread coverage. However, any storm that does form has the possibility of becoming severe with the potential for damaging winds and large hail,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell says the high heat and rain are expected to subside late Thursday night. He says Independence Day will be partly cloudy with a high of 73.