Alert archive / New York / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Albany, NY

July 14, 1988Herkimer County, Montgomery County, New York

NWS Albany, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 14, 1988, 3:08 PM EDT for Herkimer County, Montgomery County, New York. It was in force for 67 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 14, 1988, 3:08 PM EDT (19:08 UTC)
Expired
Jul 14, 1988, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Albany, NY
Area
Whole counties

Counties Herkimer County, NY, Montgomery County, NY

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 14, 3:29 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Herkimer, NY
Jul 14, 3:30 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Montgomery, NY

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALB), launched 12:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 88 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 1988-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 7 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 1988-07-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 173 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-235 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1467 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
173 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
174 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KALB 141908
SVRALB
NYC043-057-142015-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
308 PM EDT THU JUL 14 1988

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK
      SOUTHERN HERKIMER...MONTGOMERY

305 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST
OF LITTLE FALLS IN SOUTHERN HERKIMER COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS
LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

IT WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH. IT WILL CROSS HANHIEM AND
NEAR DANUBE IN HERKIMER COUNTY...AND MOVE INTO MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
IT WILL PASS NEAR ST JOHNSVILLE AND PALINTINE.

IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA THREATENED BY THE STORM...GO TO A REINFORCED
SHELTER AND PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND LIGHTNING.

INTENSE LIGHTNING WAS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS.  MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN
INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING
TELEPHONES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

 SNYDER

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 11:01 AM EDT, 4 hours 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
1100 AM EDT THU JUL 14 1988

...THUNDERSTORMS WERE RUMBLING THROUGH NORTHERN AND WESTERN NEW YORK...

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER NORTHERN AND WESTERN
NEW YORK LATE THURSDAY MORNING.

AT 1050 AM EDT...WEATHER RADAR AT ALBANY DETECTED A POSSIBLE
THUNDERSTORM AT LAKE PLACID IN ESSEX COUNTY. ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM
WITH SEVERAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES WAS NEAR SYRACUSE.

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM NORTHERN VERMONT TO
THE NIAGRA FRONTIER OF WESTERN NEW YORK. IT WAS MOVING EAST ABOUT
35 MILES AN HOUR.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WILL FORM OVER UPSTATE NEW YORK THIS AFTERNOON.
A POTENTIAL EXISTS THAT THE STORMS WILL ESCALATE AS THE DAY WEARS
ON...PRODUCING HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WIND.

LISTEN FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS ON NOAA WEATHER
RADIO.

HEMMERICH
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 1:03 PM EDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
100 PM EDT THU JUL 14 1988

...SHOWERS WERE OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK...

SHOWERS  WERE SCATTERED OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK EARLY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

AT 1255 AM EDT...WEATHER RADAR AT ALBANY SHOWED MOSTLY LIGHT SHOWERS
OVER NORTHERN NEW YORK. RADARS IN WESTERN NEW YORK HAD A FEW
SHOWERS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK...WITH A LONE THUNDERSTORM SOUTH OF
ROCHESTER.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST ABOUT 35 MILES AN
HOUR.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM OVER UPSTATE NEW YORK
LATER THIS AFTERNOON. AND...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR SOME
OF THESE STORMS TO CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WIND AND HAIL.

LISTEN 4FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS ON NOAA WEATHER
RADIO.

HEMMERICH
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 2:39 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
240 PM EDT THU JUL 14 1988

FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS SPED THROUGH THE MOHAWK VALLEY EARLY
THIS AFTERNOON...AND WERE AS FAR EAST AS AMSTERDAM AT 130 PM.

OTHER STORMS  WERE SCATTERED  THROUGH  THE MOHAWK VALLEY  AND WERE
JUST WEST OF JOHNSTOWN AND ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF UTICA.  ALL
STORM  WERE  MOVING EAST  AT 30 MILE S AN HOUR.  THE  FIRST OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS  WILL MOVE  THROUGH  THE CAPITAL DISTRICT  A  LITTLE
SOUTH  OF  CLIFTON PARK  SHORTLY  AFTER  3 O/CLOCK...AND  TO  NEAR
HOOSICK FALLS BY 330 PM.

BRIEF BUT VERY HEAVY RAINS WILL ACCOMPANY THE STORMS AND WIND
GUSTS MAY TOP 50 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOUR WEATHER LOOKS  THREATENING...GET  TO A SOLID BUILDING AND
WAIT THE STORM OUT.   DRIVERS  ON THRUWAY SECTIONS  IN THE MOHAWK
VALLEY...WEST OF ALBANY SHOUOLD PULL OVER IN ANY DOWNPOURS.

IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHERE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT...
WARNINGS  ARE OUT FOR A SEVERE STORM IN OSWEGO AND ONONDAGA COUNTIES.
THE SUNY AT ALBANY LIGHTNING DETECTION  SHOWED A MASSIVE OUTBREAK OF
LIGHTNING IN THE STORM.

AGAIN...IF  A STORM  MOVES  INTO YOUR AREA...GET  TO A SAFE SOLID
SHELTER.  BECAUSE OF THEIR FAST MOVEMENT...THE DURATION OF STORMS
WILL BE BRIEF.

BOATERS AND CAMPERS  IN THE GREAT SACANADA REGION  AND ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF SARATOGA COUNTY SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY ALERT...AND
READY TO QUICKLY  GET TO SHELTER.
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 2:43 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION OF TIME IN 1ST PARAGRAPH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
240 PM EDT THU JUL 14 1988

FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS SPED THROUGH THE MOHAWK VALLEY EARLY
THIS AFTERNOON...AND WERE AS FAR EAST AS AMSTERDAM AT 230 PM.

OTHER STORMS  WERE SCATTERED  THROUGH  THE MOHAWK VALLEY  AND WERE
JUST WEST OF JOHNSTOWN AND ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF UTICA.  ALL
STORM  WERE  MOVING EAST  AT 30 MILE S AN HOUR.  THE  FIRST OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS  WILL MOVE  THROUGH  THE CAPITAL DISTRICT  A  LITTLE
SOUTH  OF  CLIFTON PARK  SHORTLY  AFTER  3 O/CLOCK...AND  TO  NEAR
HOOSICK FALLS BY 330 PM.

BRIEF BUT VERY HEAVY RAINS WILL ACCOMPANY THE STORMS AND WIND
GUSTS MAY TOP 50 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOUR WEATHER LOOKS  THREATENING...GET  TO A SOLID BUILDING AND
WAIT THE STORM OUT.   DRIVERS  ON THRUWAY SECTIONS  IN THE MOHAWK
VALLEY...WEST OF ALBANY SHOUOLD PULL OVER IN ANY DOWNPOURS.

IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHERE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT...
WARNINGS  ARE OUT FOR A SEVERE STORM IN OSWEGO AND ONONDAGA COUNTIES.
THE SUNY AT ALBANY LIGHTNING DETECTION  SHOWED A MASSIVE OUTBREAK OF
LIGHTNING IN THE STORM.

AGAIN...IF  A STORM  MOVES  INTO YOUR AREA...GET  TO A SAFE SOLID
SHELTER.  BECAUSE OF THEIR FAST MOVEMENT...THE DURATION OF STORMS
WILL BE BRIEF.

BOATERS AND CAMPERS  IN THE GREAT SACANADA REGION  AND ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF SARATOGA COUNTY SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY ALERT...AND
READY TO QUICKLY  GET TO SHELTER.
Special weather statement, Jul 14, 2:55 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
250 PM EDT THU JUL 14 1988

A POWERFUL THUNDERSTORM WAS JUST WEST OF JOHNSTOWN
AND GLOVERSVILLE IN FULTON COUNTY.

THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS VERY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS
AND INTENSE LIGHTNING.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

IT WILL CROSS THE FULTON-MONTGOMERY COUNTY LINE...PASSING NEAR
AMSTERDAM AROUND 3.15 PM. IT WILL REACH THE GLENVILLE
CLIFTON PARK AREA OF SOUTHERN SARATOGA COUNTY BY ABOUT 4PM.

PERSONS IN ALONG THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD PREPARE FOR
VERY HEAVY RAIN...SMAL HAIL AND INTENSE LIGHTING.

SNYDER

IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHERE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT...
WARNINGS  ARE OUT FOR A SEVERE STORM IN OSWEGO AND ONONDAGA COUNTIES.
THE SUNY AT ALBANY LIGHTNING DETECTION  SHOWED A MASSIVE OUTBREAK OF
LIGHTNING IN THE STORM.

AGAIN...IF  A STORM  MOVES  INTO YOUR AREA...GET  TO A SAFE SOLID
SHELTER.  BECAUSE OF THEIR FAST MOVEMENT...THE DURATION OF STORMS
WILL BE BRIEF.

BOATERS AND CAMPERS  IN THE GREAT SACANADA REGION  AND ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF SARATOGA COUNTY SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY ALERT...AND
READY TO QUICKLY  GET TO SHELTER.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Albany, NY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 14, 3:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningALYFulton59 min
Jul 14, 3:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningALYSchenectady57 min
Jul 14, 4:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningALYRensselaer68 min
Jul 14, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningALYDutchess, Ulster83 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New York, 1988Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1988

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.