Local News

Severe Thunderstorms Strike Tri-State

NEW YORK (CBS) ― A funnel cloud formed in the sky over the College of Staten Island Sunday. Although it did not hit the ground, many people were caught off guard as severe weather moved across New York City.

Sheets of heavy rain fell on city streets, and the National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm watches until 3 a.m. Monday for all five boroughs in New York Sunday evening, for Bergen , Coastal Ocean , Eastern Monmouth , Eastern Passaic , Essex , Hudson , Hunterdon , Mercer , Middlesex , Morris , Northwestern Burlington , Ocean , Somerset , Southeastern Burlington , Sussex , Union , Warren , Western Monmouth , Western Passaic counties in New Jersey, and Fairfield County in Connecticut.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Columbia and Dutchess counties.

Flights at New York City's main airports have been delayed because of the bad weather.

Severe thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon battered LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports.

At LaGuardia flights have been delayed between 30 and 75 minutes.

The Federal Aviation Administration says at Kennedy some arrivals have been delayed as much as 3 hours.

Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Watches are usually in effect for several hours, with 6 hours being the most common.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when a thunderstorm produces hail 3/4 inch (20 mm) or larger in diameter and/or winds which equal or exceed 58 mph (93 km/h). Severe thunderstorms can result in the loss of life and/or property.

Severe Weather Alerts:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in CT - Northern Fairfield , Southern Fairfield

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in NJ - Bergen , Coastal Ocean , Eastern Monmouth , Eastern Passaic , Essex , Hudson , Hunterdon , Mercer , Middlesex , Morris , Northwestern Burlington , Ocean , Somerset , Southeastern Burlington , Sussex , Union , Warren , Western Monmouth , Western Passaic

Severe Thunderstorm Watch - Bronx , Delaware , Eastern Columbia , Eastern Dutchess , Eastern Ulster , Kings (Brooklyn) , New York (Manhattan) , Northern Westchester , Orange , Putnam , Queens , Richmond (Staten Is.) , Rockland , Southern Westchester , Sullivan , Western Dutchess , Western Ulster

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Eastern Columbia , Eastern Dutchess , Western Dutchess

Forecast: 

Monday: High 85, Low 68

Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Tuesday: High 83, Low 63

Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Wednesday: High 85, Low 70

Mostly sunny day with highs in the mid 80s. Partly cloudy night with lows in the upper 60s.

Thursday: High 83, Low 68

Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---