The city of Albany urged residents to prepare for a severe weather event on Wednesday afternoon and evening. 

With the remains of Hurricane Beryl moving toward Eastern New York, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said city residents should prepare for thunderstorms, high winds and the potential for flash flooding through the evening.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Albany County and surrounding counties until at least 9 p.m. While the heaviest rain and flood potential is expected over North-Central New York and the North Country, Sheehan urged residents and businesses to take safety measures.

"I am urging residents to prepare for and be aware of the potential for significant storms through the rest of the day into tonight," Sheehan said in a statement. "Our emergency response team comprised of Albany's Fire, Police, General Services, Buildings and Regulatory Compliance, and Water Departments are actively planning in anticipation for the storm and will be working together to ensure any post-storm damage is handled quickly and appropriately."