The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 5:11 p.m. on Saturday for thunderstorms and showers until 7:15 p.m. for Yates, Seneca, Cayuga, Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tompkins, Cortland, Tioga and Broome counties.

"Rain showers with locally heavy and embedded thunderstorms will move across the Finger Lakes and Twin Tier Region of NY and PA early this evening. Locally heavy rain, and frequent lightning will be possible until around 7 pm in these areas," states the weather service.

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, mostly during the summer. Lightning claims the lives of about 20 people annually, according to the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incid

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