It is not too late to make final adjustments to Halloween costumes for Wednesday - including the addition of a rain coat.
Starting today, the rain will come and is expected to last through the Halloween holiday.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, the weather will be "ugly" for the next few days including rain and temperatures in the 40s Sunday through Thursday.
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In this image taken by NOAA’s GOES East at 2:45 GMT on Friday Hurricane Sandy is seen in the center bottom. The hurricane has killed at least 20 people in the Caribbean, and just left the Bahamas. It is expected to move north, just off the Eastern Seaboard. When Hurricane Sandy becomes a hybrid weather monster some call “Frankenstorm” it will smack the East Coast harder and wider than last year’s damaging Irene, forecasters said Friday.
"It's pretty ugly," Jon Hitchcock, meteorologist for the NWS, said. "It's going to rain for five days straight from (Saturday) until next Thursday."
While there were rumors of snow coming early this year, Hitchcock said that would not be true.
"Definitely (no snow) in Dunkirk (but) possible in highest hill tops in the Southern Tier," he said.
The rain is going to accumulate between 3 to 6 inches over the five-day period which could cause some minor flooding issues Tuesday and Wednesday. Flood water can rise rapidly. If your house is prone to flooding, move furniture and other items to a higher floor. Unplug all electronics that cannot be moved and do not touch any electronic device while wet or standing in water.
A cold front will reach our area until Tuesday when the remnants of Hurricane Sandy will move through. By then, Hurricane Sandy will no longer be a tropical storm, Hitchcock said.
Some winds may be damaging in the area on Tuesday, Hitchcock said, which may down trees as well as cause power outages. During a power outage, use flashlights instead of candles to alleviate the risk of fire. Turn off all electronics to prevent a power surge when power returns. Leave one light on and plugged in to be aware of when the power returns. Refrigerator and freezer doors should be kept shut to prevent food from spoiling.
During a power outage, National Grid provides updates on service interruption. Customers can text the word STORM to NGRID (64743) to sign up to receive text message alerts. Email alerts can be sent to customers who create a profile on the company's website. National Grid's Facebook and Twitter accounts will also provide storm and restoration updates.
Director for Chautauqua County Emergency Services Julius Leone Jr. would like to remind residents that being prepared is essential for natural disasters of any kind. Two ways to be prepared to have a family emergency plan as well as an emergency supply kit.
Ensure all family members know how to dial 911 and when its appropriate. Monitor news outlets to be warned of emergencies. Leone suggests residents signs up for NY ALERT, New York state's all-hazards alert and notification system. To sign up for NY ALERT, visit www.nyalert.gov or call 1-888-697-6972.
An emergency supply kit is to help families sustain in an event of an emergency. Items that may be included in a kit are portable battery powered radio, flashlight, batteries, ready to eat, non-perishable food and water for three days, manual can opener, clothing, sleeping bags, a week's supply of prescription medicine, credit card or cash. Special items for the elderly or infants may also be included.
"Safety is our number one priority for the residents of Chautauqua County. The more you plan for an emergency the safer you and your family will be when an emergency occurs," County Executive Gregory Edwards said.
Hitchcock said it is still early to predict the weather on to Halloween. For more information on Hurricane Sandy, check local weather stations, including the National Weather Service in Buffalo at www.erh.noaa.gov/buf. For more information on emergency preparedness, visit FEMA at www.ready.gov, American Red Cross at www.redcross.org or contact the Chautauqua County Office of Emergency Services at 753-4341.
Comments on this article may be sent to smcdonnell@observertoday.com.
