Update: Flash flood warnings have been canceled across Upstate New York as the rain fades away.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings, the most severe level of flood alert, for much of Central New York this morning.
“Life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses,” the weather service said in the warning bulletin.
Emergency alerts popping up on some cell phones this morning are urging people to stay put.
“Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order,” the emergency alerts read.
The flash flood warning is in effect until 2 p.m. in Cortland, Madison, Oneida and Onondaga counties. In southern Oneida County, the weather service warned, flood damage could be “considerable.”
Flash flooding has already started along Oneida Creek in the Madison County village of Munnsville. Portions of Routes 5 and 12 are closed in the Oneida County town of Kirkland.
Some spots in Central New York have already had 2 inches of rain since Sunday night and more could fall throughout the morning. Syracuse could see another half-inch by noon. After that, the rain tapers to occasional showers.
A cold front sweeps in tonight, turning that light rain into light snow. Syracuse could see a couple of inches from early Tuesday morning to mid afternoon.