Alert archive / New York / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 28, NWS Albany, NY
NWS Albany, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 3:09 PM EDT for Herkimer County, New York. It was in force for 61 min. 4 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
- May 31, 1998, 3:09 PM EDT (19:09 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1998, 4:10 PM EDT
- In force
- 61 min
- Issued by
- NWS Albany, NY
- Area
- Whole counties
County Herkimer County, NY
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 3:38 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Frankfort, NY | |
| May 31, 3:38 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Dolgeville, NY | |
| May 31, 3:38 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Cedarville, NY | |
| May 31, 3:45 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Mohawk, 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 123 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1673 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 188 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 264 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
495 WUUS1 KALB 311910 RRA SVRALB NYC043-312010- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 309 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBANY NY HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... SOUTHERN HERKIMER COUNTY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK * UNTIL 410 PM EDT * AT 309 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED DEVELOPING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHWEST HERKIMER COUNTY MOVING EAST ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR. * THE STRONGEST SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... FRANKFORT AT 320 PM ILION AT 320 PM HERKIMER AT 325 PM LITTLE FALLS AT 330 PM DOLGEVILLE AT 335 PM IF YOU LIVE IN THIS AREA BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL...AWAY FROM WINDOWS. A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCED WARNING. BLAES/KL /NWSFO ALY
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, May 31, 10:17 AM EDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before
CTZ001-MAZ001-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-VTZ013- 014-312000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1017 AM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND THROUGH THIS EVENING... A TORNADO WATCH HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED FOR HERKIMER...HAMILTON... WARREN...SARATOGA...FULTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM. ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED COVERING MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS OF GREATER THAN 60 MILES AN HOUR ARE LIKELY IN A FEW OF THE THUNDERSTORMS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE AND TORNADOES ACROSS THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKE STATES. HEAVY RAIN AND SOME HAIL ARE ALSO POSSIBLE...BUT THE PRIMARY THREAT IS FROM DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. AT MID MORNING A LINE OF VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALREADY MOVING RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS LAKES ERIE AND ONTARIO. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH THE EASTERN MOHAWK VALLEY AND ADIRONDACKS BETWEEN 1200 AND 200 PM. THE LINE WILL THEN REACH THE CATSKILLS... HUDSON VALLEY...CAPITAL DISTRICT AND LAKE GEORGE-SARATOGA REGION BETWEEN 100 AND 300 PM BEFORE MOVING INTO EXTREME WESTERN NEW ENGLAND AFTER 200 PM. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY TODAY. IF YOU HAVE OUTDOOR PLANS KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WEATHER INFORMATION. BE READY TO TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER RADIO OR NEWS STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE DETAILS. BLAES /NWSFO ALY
Special weather statement, May 31, 10:17 AM EDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before
CTZ001-MAZ001-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-VTZ013- 014-312000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1017 AM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND THROUGH THIS EVENING... A TORNADO WATCH HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED FOR HERKIMER...HAMILTON... WARREN...SARATOGA...FULTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM. ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED COVERING MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS OF GREATER THAN 60 MILES AN HOUR ARE LIKELY IN A FEW OF THE THUNDERSTORMS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE AND TORNADOES ACROSS THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKE STATES. HEAVY RAIN AND SOME HAIL ARE ALSO POSSIBLE...BUT THE PRIMARY THREAT IS FROM DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. AT MID MORNING A LINE OF VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALREADY MOVING RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS LAKES ERIE AND ONTARIO. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH THE EASTERN MOHAWK VALLEY AND ADIRONDACKS BETWEEN 1200 AND 200 PM. THE LINE WILL THEN REACH THE CATSKILLS... HUDSON VALLEY...CAPITAL DISTRICT AND LAKE GEORGE-SARATOGA REGION BETWEEN 100 AND 300 PM BEFORE MOVING INTO EXTREME WESTERN NEW ENGLAND AFTER 200 PM. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY TODAY. IF YOU HAVE OUTDOOR PLANS KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WEATHER INFORMATION. BE READY TO TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER RADIO OR NEWS STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE DETAILS. BLAES /NWSFO ALY
Special weather statement, May 31, 12:00 PM EDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
CTZ001-MAZ001-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-VTZ013- 014-312000- BULLETIN SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1200 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS ARE LIKELY AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION... A TORNADO WATCH HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED FOR HERKIMER...HAMILTON... WARREN...WASHINGTON...SARATOGA...FULTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM. ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED COVERING MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS OF GREATER THAN 60 MILES AN HOUR ARE LIKELY IN MANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE AND TORNADOES ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GREAT LAKE STATES. HEAVY RAIN AND SOME HAIL ARE ALSO POSSIBLE...BUT THE PRIMARY THREAT IS FROM DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. AT MIDDAY...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALREADY MOVING RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK FROM WATERTOWN SOUTH TO NEAR SYRACUSE TO JUST NORTH OF ELMIRA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH THE EASTERN MOHAWK VALLEY AND ADIRONDACKS BETWEEN 100 AND 230 PM. THE LINE WILL THEN REACH THE CATSKILLS...HUDSON VALLEY...CAPITAL DISTRICT AND LAKE GEORGE-SARATOGA REGION BETWEEN 130 AND 400 PM BEFORE MOVING INTO EXTREME WESTERN NEW ENGLAND AFTER 230 PM. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND AGAIN DURING THE EVENING. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY TODAY. IF YOU HAVE OUTDOOR PLANS KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WEATHER INFORMATION. BE READY TO TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER RADIO AND NEWS STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE DETAILS. BLAES /NWSFO ALY
Special weather statement, May 31, 12:00 PM EDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
CTZ001-MAZ001-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-VTZ013- 014-312000- BULLETIN SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1200 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS ARE LIKELY AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION... A TORNADO WATCH HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED FOR HERKIMER...HAMILTON... WARREN...WASHINGTON...SARATOGA...FULTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM. ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED COVERING MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS OF GREATER THAN 60 MILES AN HOUR ARE LIKELY IN MANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE AND TORNADOES ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GREAT LAKE STATES. HEAVY RAIN AND SOME HAIL ARE ALSO POSSIBLE...BUT THE PRIMARY THREAT IS FROM DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. AT MIDDAY...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALREADY MOVING RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK FROM WATERTOWN SOUTH TO NEAR SYRACUSE TO JUST NORTH OF ELMIRA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REACH THE EASTERN MOHAWK VALLEY AND ADIRONDACKS BETWEEN 100 AND 230 PM. THE LINE WILL THEN REACH THE CATSKILLS...HUDSON VALLEY...CAPITAL DISTRICT AND LAKE GEORGE-SARATOGA REGION BETWEEN 130 AND 400 PM BEFORE MOVING INTO EXTREME WESTERN NEW ENGLAND AFTER 230 PM. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND AGAIN DURING THE EVENING. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY TODAY. IF YOU HAVE OUTDOOR PLANS KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WEATHER INFORMATION. BE READY TO TAKE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER RADIO AND NEWS STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE DETAILS. BLAES /NWSFO ALY
Local storm report, May 31, 2:50 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP A
0249PM SUN MAY 31 1998
AESO WLSR QHQT QTRF APTS WAPT
00670 FILE 28 SHERIFF OF ERIE COUNTY NY0140000 MAY 31-98
TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
COPY SEMO DUTY OFFICER
THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND REPORT
COUNTY(S) AFFECTED: ERIE
LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): TOWN OF COLLINS/RT 62,RT 438,TAYLOR
HOLLOW,LENOX AND QUAKER ROADS
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 5/31/98 12:28 PM
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER:
CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
(X) - NO HAIL REPORTED ( ) - LESS THAN 1/2" (PEA)
( ) - 1/2" (MARBLE) ( ) - 1/2" TO 3/4" (PENNY)
( ) - 3/4" TO 1" (DIME) ( ) - 1.25" (HALF DOLLAR)
( ) - 1.50" (WALNUT) ( ) - 1.75" (GOLFBALL)
( ) - 2.00" (HENS EGG) ( ) - 2.50" (TENNISBALL)
( ) - 2.75" (BASEBALL) ( ) - 3.00" (TEA CUP)
( ) - 4.00" (GRAPEFRUIT) ( ) - 4.50" (SOFTBALL)
NUMBER KILLED: 0 NUMBER INJURED: 0
CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
LIGHTNING REPORTED AS ( ) - CLOUD TO CLOUD (X) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO: (X) - TREES
( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES (X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS ( ) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED: 0 NUMBER INJURED: 0
CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/T'STORM WIND DAMAGE ( ) - CROPS
(X) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS (X) - LARGE TREES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS ( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES
(X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS: MPH OR KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED: 0 NUMBER INJURED: 0
FLOODING (IF EXTENSIVE, SEND SEPARATE FLOOD MESSAGE FROM MENU)
( ) - STORM SEWER OVERFLOWS, UNDERPASSES, STREET FLOODING
( ) - LOCAL SMALL CREEKS OVERFLOWING
( ) - STREAMS AND LARGE CREEKS FLOODING (COMPLETE REMARKS W/DAMAGE
REMARKS: STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE
AUTH PHONE #: 716 662-5554
AUTH SHERIFF PATRICK GALLIVAN SCHWEGLER 1447HR
OPER - SCHWEGLER,JAMIE L 1448The office that day
Everything else NWS Albany, NY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1:03 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Hamilton, Herkimer | 72 min |
| May 31, 3:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Montgomery | 62 min |
| May 31, 3:24 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Montgomery | 61 min |
| May 31, 3:29 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Fulton, Herkimer | 61 min |
| May 31, 3:33 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Montgomery | 52 min |
| May 31, 3:43 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Saratoga | 62 min |
| May 31, 4:16 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Washington | 74 min |
| May 31, 4:30 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Rensselaer | 50 min |
| May 31, 4:35 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie | 55 min |
| May 31, 4:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Saratoga | 32 min |
| May 31, 4:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Greene | 78 min |
| May 31, 5:16 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Columbia, Rensselaer | 74 min |
| May 31, 6:17 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery | 63 min |
| May 31, 6:29 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Schoharie | 46 min |
| May 31, 6:45 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady | 60 min |
| May 31, 7:03 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Greene | 57 min |
| May 31, 7:06 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Rensselaer | 59 min |
| May 31, 7:10 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Washington | 60 min |
| May 31, 7:10 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Albany, Schoharie | 55 min |
| May 31, 7:19 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Ulster | 56 min |
| May 31, 7:32 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Columbia | 73 min |
| May 31, 7:50 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | ALY | Greene | 45 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New York, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998
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.