If you were trying to sleep in Delaware County tonight, the weather had other plans. The county was placed under a severe thunderstorm watch, with the alert expected to remain in effect until roughly 4:00 a.m. local time. The overnight system brought frequent lightning, heavy downpours and the potential for damaging straight-line winds across parts of the county, and local responders urged residents to stay weather aware and be ready to seek shelter if conditions worsened.
The advisory was posted by the Gaston Volunteer Fire/EMS Department. According to the Gaston Volunteer Fire/EMS Department, "Delaware County is under a severe thunderstorm watch until approximately 4:00 am." In the early morning post, the department urged people to keep an eye on official updates and to avoid traveling when heavy storms move through.
According to the National Weather Service, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for storms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail. The agency notes that nighttime storms can be especially dangerous because people are often sleeping and visibility is poor. Lightning, flash flooding and wind damage are among the main threats, and having a way to get alerts and a plan to shelter quickly can be critical.
How to stay informed
Delaware County's emergency communications center directs residents to the county alert system and official social channels for real-time updates. Per Delaware County Emergency Communications, residents can sign up for text and email notifications and are asked to report hazards such as downed power lines or flooded roadways to the county dispatch center.
If a warning is issued for your immediate area, the National Weather Service advises moving to an interior room on the lowest floor, staying away from windows and avoiding travel. The agency also repeats its familiar message for flooded roads: "turn around, don't drown," and recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before heading back outside.
Emergency crews in the county plan to continue posting updates as conditions evolve, so residents are encouraged to keep phones and weather radios on overnight. For the latest local information, monitor the Gaston Volunteer Fire/EMS Facebook page and Delaware County emergency channels.
