A series of thunderstorms rolled through Western New York overnight, bringing heavy rains. Flooding has struck a number of basements and has closed some area roadways. Portions of Delaware Avenue, Sheridan Drive, East Amherst Street and Maple Road are difficult to navigate or they are closed due to flooding. National Weather Service Meteorologist John Hitchcock explains that the heaviest rains were localized.
"Just a small part of the Buffalo metro area received a very heavy rainfall: From downtown Buffalo out towards Cheektowaga and the eastern suburbs, 2 to 3 inches, but the hardest hit areas were the northern parts of Amherst, northern parts of Clarence and far southern Niagara County right along Tonawanda Creek. We have radar estimates of 4 to 5 inches, even locally higher amounts."
Hitchcock reports that with the rains tapering off, many flooded areas are beginning to drain. He used the image of a train to describe the series of storms that followed one another along a similar path overnight.
National Grid is reporting more than 7000 customers who are without power this morning.
