NY weather: Be prepared for strong thunderstorms in New York until Monday midday [Video]

A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Monday at 5:17 a.m. for strong thunderstorms until noon for Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis and Ontario counties.

“Thunderstorms this afternoon will have an elevated risk of becoming strong to severe. This will especially be the case after 2 p.m. for the Eastern Lake Ontario region where some storms could produce wind gusts in excess of 60 mph,” according to the weather service.

When lightning looms: Expert safety tips for thunderstorms

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these …