The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 4:06 p.m. on Saturday for thunderstorms until 5:15 p.m. for Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties.

"Thunderstorms will move through the Greater Syracuse area late this afternoon. The storms will produce locally heavy rainfall that could cause poor drainage flooding, frequent lightning and small hail. The thunderstorm activity will move into Madison and southern Oneida counties by 5 pm," states the weather service.

When lightning looms: Expert safety tips for thunderstorms

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 incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw

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