Alert archive / New York / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 32, NWS Albany, NY
NWS Albany, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 6:45 PM EDT for Albany County, Saratoga County, Schenectady County, New York. It was in force for 60 min. 5 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, 6:45 PM EDT (22:45 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1998, 7:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 60 min
- Issued by
- NWS Albany, NY
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Albany County, NY, Saratoga County, NY, Schenectady County, NY
The radar
The Albany radar (KENX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:46 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 7:00 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Duanesburg, NY | |
| May 31, 7:08 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Mechanicville, NY | |
| May 31, 7:08 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | Clarksville, NY | |
| May 31, 7:11 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | New Scotland, NY | |
| May 31, 7:30 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind | New Scotland, 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 3:00 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 20 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.
097 WUUS1 KALB 312249 RRA SVRALB NYC001-091-093-312345- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 645 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBANY NY HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... SARATOGA COUNTY IN EASTERN NEW YORK SCHENECTADY COUNTY IN EASTERN NEW YORK ALBANY COUNTY IN EASTERN NEW YORK * UNTIL 745 PM EDT * AT 640 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES AND STORM SPOTTERS REPORT A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING RAPIDLY EAST AT ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS. TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. * THE STRONGEST SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF AMSTERDAM AT 645 PM 5 MILES NORTH OF MARIAVILLE AT 650 PM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF SCOTIA AT 650 PM EAST GLENVILLE AT 655 PM ROUND LAKE AT 700 PM ALTAMONT AT 700 PM CLIFTON PARK AT 705 PM COLONIE AT 710 PM MECHANICVILLE AT 710 PM A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT. IF YOU LIVE IN THESE AREAS BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL...AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
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
Local storm report, May 31, 5:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP E
0538PM SUN MAY 31 1998
EHOR WLSR QHQT QTRF APTS WAPT EHQT EDUN
03200 FILE 28 SP HORSEHEADS NY1070100 MAY 31-98
TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
COPY SEMO DUTY OFFICER
THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND REPORT
COUNTY(S) AFFECTED: SCHUYLER
LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): TOWN OF HECTOR, SR 79 & 228
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: MAY 31, 3:30 PM
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: MINOR TREE DAMAGE TO 4 HOMES,
ROOF DAMAGE TO MECHLENBURG FIRE DEPT., UTILITY LINES DOWN AND SEVERAL
TREES DOWN
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 ( ) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO: (X) - TREES
( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES (X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS ( ) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED: NUMBER INJURED:
CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/T'STORM WIND DAMAGE ( ) - CROPS
( ) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS ( ) - LARGE TREES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS ( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES
( ) - POWER/TELCO LINES
RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS: MPH OR KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED: NUMBER INJURED:
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: NYSEG, NYS D.O.T. AND MECKLENBURG FIRE DEPT RESPONDED FOR
CLEANUP
AUTH PHONE #: 607 739-8796
AUTH Z/SGT JEFFREY A DUNN S DRISCOLL 0537PM
OPER - DRISCOLL,SUZANNE L b 1737Local storm report, May 31, 5:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP C
0541PM SUN MAY 31 1998
CTSO WLSR QHQT QTRF APTS WAPT
02831 FILE 28 TIOGA CO SO NY0530000 MAY 31-98
TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
COPY SEMO DUTY OFFICER
THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND REPORT
COUNTY(S) AFFECTED: TIOGA
LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): TOWN OF CANDOR
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 5-38PM
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: AT THIS TIME HIGH WINDS AND RAIN WITH
LOTS OF CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTING PRESENT
HAIL IS BEGINING TO FALL
CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
( ) - NO HAIL REPORTED ( ) - LESS THAN 1/2" (PEA)
( ) - 1/2" (MARBLE) (X) - 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
(X) - 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 ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS (X) - 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/DlAMAGE
REMARKS:
AUTH PHONE #: 607 687-1010
AUTH HOPKINS
OPER - HOPKINS,KELLY K 1741Local storm report, May 31, 5:49 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP G
0548PM SUN MAY 31 1998
GCOL WLSR QHQT QTRF APTS WAPT
05563 FILE 28 TOWN OF COLONIE PD NY0015300 MAY 31-98
TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
COPY SEMO DUTY OFFICER
THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND REPORT
COUNTY(S) AFFECTED: ALBANY COUNTY
LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): TOWN OF COLONIE
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 450PM
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: LARGE AMOUNT OF REPORTED DAMGE
IN THE ENTIRE COLONIE AREA
CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
( ) - 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: NUMBER INJURED:
CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
LIGHTNING REPORTED AS (X) - CLOUD TO CLOUD (X) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO: (X) - TREES
(X) - POWER/TELCO POLES ( ) - POWER/TELCO LINES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS ( ) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED: NUMBER INJURED:
CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/T'STORM WIND DAMAGE ( ) - CROPS
(X) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS (X) - LARGE TREES
(X) - COMM. BUILDINGS (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS (X) - POWER/TELCO POLES
(X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS: MPH OR KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED: NUMBER INJURED:
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: WE HAVE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TREES DOWN ON BUILDINGS AND HOUSES
LARGE AREA OF DAMAGE TO HOUSES CARS BUILDINGS BEING REPORTED TO OUR
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
AUTH PHONE #: 518 783-2814
AUTH LT MICHAEL GERACI ELSNER 547PM
OPER - ELSNER,ROBERT J 1748Local storm report, May 31, 6:35 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
635 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0420 PM STILLWATER NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 SARATOGA SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE.
0450 PM SCHAGHTICOKE NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 RENSSELAER TREES DOWN...SIGNS
BENT...TRAILERS FLIPPED
OVER...DEBRIS ON RTE 40
AND 67
0510 PM CHATHAM NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 COLUMBIA TREES AND WIRES DOWN.
0510 PM KINDERHOOK NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 COLUMBIA TREE DOWN ON RESIDENCE.
0510 PM STUYVESANT NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 COLUMBIA TREE ACROSS CONRAIL
TRACKS.
0510 PM CHATHAM NY .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 COLUMBIA DIME SIZE HAIL.
0545 PM PITTSFIELD MA 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 BERKSHIRELocal storm report, May 31, 6:35 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
635 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0420 PM STILLWATER NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 SARATOGA SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE.
0450 PM SCHAGHTICOKE NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 RENSSELAER TREES DOWN...SIGNS
BENT...TRAILERS FLIPPED
OVER...DEBRIS ON RTE 40
AND 67
0510 PM CHATHAM NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 COLUMBIA TREES AND WIRES DOWN.
0510 PM KINDERHOOK NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 COLUMBIA TREE DOWN ON RESIDENCE.
0510 PM STUYVESANT NY WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 COLUMBIA TREE ACROSS CONRAIL
TRACKS.
0510 PM CHATHAM NY .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 COLUMBIA DIME SIZE HAIL.
0545 PM PITTSFIELD MA 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 BERKSHIRELocal storm report, May 31, 6:45 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP E
0645PM SUN MAY 31 1998
EASO WLSR QHQT QTRF APTS WAPT
01603 FILE 28 SENECA CO SO NY0490000 MAY 31-98
TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
COPY SEMO DUTY OFFICER
THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND REPORT
COUNTY(S) AFFECTED: SENECA COUNTY
LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): VILLAGE OF WATERLOO
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 1807
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: EXTENSIVE!
CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
( ) - 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 (X) - CLOUD TO CLOUD (X) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO: (X) - TREES
(X) - POWER/TELCO POLES (X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
(X) - COMM. BUILDINGS (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
(X) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS (X) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED: 0 NUMBER INJURED: 0
CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/T'STORM WIND DAMAGE (X) - CROPS
(X) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS (X) - LARGE TREES
(X) - COMM. BUILDINGS (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
(X) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS (X) - POWER/TELCO POLES
(X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS: 00 MPH OR 00 KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED: 00 NUMBER INJURED: 00
FLOODING (IF EXTENSIVE, SEND SEPARATE FLOOD MESSAGE FROM MENU)
(X) - STORM SEWER OVERFLOWS, UNDERPASSES, STREET FLOODING
(X) - LOCAL SMALL CREEKS OVERFLOWING
(X) - STREAMS AND LARGE CREEKS FLOODING (COMPLETE REMARKS W/DAMAGE
REMARKS: THE VILLAGE OF WATERLOO IS IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY
AUTH PHONE #: 315 539-2022
AUTH SHERIFF THOMAS H FOX LEONARD
OPER - SMITH, TONI F 1844The 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, 3:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Herkimer | 61 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, 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.