Alert archive / New York / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Binghamton, NY

May 31, 1998Chenango County, Madison County, New York

NWS Binghamton, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 5:04 PM EDT for Chenango County, Madison County, New York. It was in force for 61 min. 3 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, 5:04 PM EDT (21:04 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 1998, 6:05 PM EDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Binghamton, NY
Area
Whole counties

Counties Chenango County, NY, Madison County, NY

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 31, 5:50 PM EDTTornado F2Plymouth, NYA supercell thunderstorm became tornadic near Plymouth Reservoir in Plymouth township around 5:50 pm EDT. Although the tornado's touchdown was brief, it still cut a large swath of damage nearly a 1/4 mile wide and mowed down hundreds of trees around the reser
May 31, 5:55 PM EDTThunderstorm WindCazenovia, NYA cluster of severe thunderstorms moved across the county during the afternoon. Numerous trees and wires were blown down across the county at approximately 5:55 pm EDT.
May 31, 6:00 PM EDTTornado F0North Norwich, NYA supercell thunderstorm became tornadic briefly over North Norwich around 6:00 pm EDT. Trees were snapped off and twisted in all directions along the tornado's path. Several road signs were also blown over and a few homes sustained roof and siding damage.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 31, 3:00 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 148 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 1998-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1998-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 188 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

280 
WUUS1 KBGM 312105 RRA
SVRBGM
NYC017-053-312205-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
504 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BINGHAMTON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CHENANGO COUNTY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK
  MADISON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK

* UNTIL 605 PM EDT

* AT 500 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER CENTRAL CORTLAND COUNTY... MOVING EAST AT
  40 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  NEW WOODSTOCK AND SOUTH OSTELIC BY 515 PM EDT
  HAMILTON AND NORTH NORWICH BY 535 PM EDT

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH
LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS

TOWNSEND

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.

NWS Binghamton, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 31, 2:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 2:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
211 PM SUN MAY 31 1998

ACTIVE CONVECTION HAS MOVED ACROSS N NY THIS AFTERNOON AND IS BEGINNING
TO DIE OUT SOMEWHAT AS IT EXITS STAGE RIGHT.  NEXT ROUND OF ACTIVITY IS
MOVING ACROSS WESTERN NY.  ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS IT
MOVES INTO THE MORE UNSTABLE AIR MASS OVR THE FA. THIS AREA WILL HAVE
TO BE WATCHED THIS AFTERNOON AND WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF ANOTHER WATCH
IS ISSUED FURTHER SOUTH ALONG THE SOUTHERN TIER OF NY AND NE PA.
SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS MASSIVE STORMS OVR W NY AND NW PA MOVING DUE E
TOWARD THE FA.

MODELS SHOW A VORT LOBE ROT THROUGH THE FA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING AND WILL CONTINUE TO AID IN SUPPORTING SEVERE CONVECTION.
LATER IN THE PERIOD TONIGHT...NVA SPREADS ACROSS THE RGN HELPING TO
STABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE. THEN ANOTHER SHOT OF VORTICITY ROT TOWARD THE
FA FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. SFC LOW TRACKING ACROSS THE N TIER OF THE
NATION AND PRECEEDING THIS SYSTEM WILL BE WAA AND COULD BRING ANOTHER
ROUND OF SVR WEATHER ON WEDNESDAY AS WAA RETURNS.  CDFNT LOOKS LIKE IT
WILL ARRIVE WEDNESDAY FOCUSING SEVERE WEATHER.

.BGM...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 3 PM FOR NYZ009-015>018-022>025-044.

LOMBARDY

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 3:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
355 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0215 PM    HORNELL                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        WIRES DOWN

0215 PM    ATLANTA                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        WIRES DOWN

0230 PM    CORTLAND                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       MULTIPLE TREES DOWN

0230 PM    BALDWINSVILLE             NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   ONONDAGA                       TREES DOWN

0250 PM    POLKVILLE                 NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       REPORTED BY SKYWARN

0305 PM    MARATHON                  NY
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       WALL CLOUD REPORTED BY
                                          NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
                                          EMPLOYEE 7 MILES EAST OF
                                          MARATHON
Local storm report, May 31, 3:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
355 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0215 PM    HORNELL                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        WIRES DOWN

0215 PM    ATLANTA                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   STEUBEN                        WIRES DOWN

0230 PM    CORTLAND                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       MULTIPLE TREES DOWN

0230 PM    BALDWINSVILLE             NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   ONONDAGA                       TREES DOWN

0250 PM    POLKVILLE                 NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       REPORTED BY SKYWARN

0305 PM    MARATHON                  NY
05/31/98   CORTLAND                       WALL CLOUD REPORTED BY
                                          NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
                                          EMPLOYEE 7 MILES EAST OF
                                          MARATHON
Special weather statement, May 31, 3:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
NYZ056-024-045-044-057-046-023-022-055-025-017-036-009-037-018-016-
015-062-PAZ038-044-047-048-039-040-043-010200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
358 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE TORNADO WATCH
UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

ONONDAGA NY...
S. CAYUGA NY...
TOMPKINS NY...
TIOGA NY...
CHEMUNG NY...
SCHUYLER NY...
YATES NY...
STEUBEN NY...

TORNADOS...LARGE DAMAGING HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR
LARGER...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS 58 MPH OR GREATER AND
DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH
AREA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR

TORNADOS AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
IF YOU LIVE IN THESE AREAS...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

GET TO A SAFE PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE
OPEN.  STAY OFF THE PHONE AND KEEP AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LIGHTNING
IS A KILLER IN THESE STORMS.  DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES AND
GET OUT OF OPEN AREAS.

ONCE AGAIN...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT.

LOMBARDY
Special weather statement, May 31, 3:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
NYZ056-024-045-044-057-046-023-022-055-025-017-036-009-037-018-016-
015-062-PAZ038-044-047-048-039-040-043-010200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
358 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE TORNADO WATCH
UNTIL 1000 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

ONONDAGA NY...
S. CAYUGA NY...
TOMPKINS NY...
TIOGA NY...
CHEMUNG NY...
SCHUYLER NY...
YATES NY...
STEUBEN NY...

TORNADOS...LARGE DAMAGING HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR
LARGER...DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS 58 MPH OR GREATER AND
DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH
AREA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR

TORNADOS AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
IF YOU LIVE IN THESE AREAS...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

GET TO A SAFE PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE
OPEN.  STAY OFF THE PHONE AND KEEP AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  LIGHTNING
IS A KILLER IN THESE STORMS.  DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES AND
GET OUT OF OPEN AREAS.

ONCE AGAIN...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT.

LOMBARDY
Local storm report, May 31, 4:40 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
440 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0213 PM    MERIDIAN                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CAYUGA                         TREES DOWN

0216 PM    CATO                      NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CAYUGA                         TREES DOWN

0300 PM    COVERT                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   SENECA                         LARGE TREES AND POWER
                                          POLES DOWN

0300 PM    MECKLENBURG               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   SCHUYLER                       TREES DOWN AND A ROOF WAS
                                          BLOWN OFF A FIREHOUSE

0323 PM    ITHACA                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TOMPKINS                       TREE FELL ON A VAN

0325 PM    SHERBURNE                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       LARGE TREES DOWN AND
                                          NUMEROUS FIRES. POSSIBLE
                                          TORNADO REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGER.

0325 PM    PLYMOUTH                  NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       HAIL REPORT FROM SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTER

0330 PM    BURLINGTON FLATS          NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES UPROOTED.

0340 PM    COOPERSTOWN               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         8 MILES N OF COOPERSTOWN
                                          TREES DOWN

0350 PM    OXFORD                    NY   50 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98   CHENANGO

0355 PM    NORTH NORWICH             NY   50 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98   CHENANGO
Local storm report, May 31, 4:40 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NEW YORK
440 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0213 PM    MERIDIAN                  NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CAYUGA                         TREES DOWN

0216 PM    CATO                      NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CAYUGA                         TREES DOWN

0300 PM    COVERT                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   SENECA                         LARGE TREES AND POWER
                                          POLES DOWN

0300 PM    MECKLENBURG               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   SCHUYLER                       TREES DOWN AND A ROOF WAS
                                          BLOWN OFF A FIREHOUSE

0323 PM    ITHACA                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   TOMPKINS                       TREE FELL ON A VAN

0325 PM    SHERBURNE                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       LARGE TREES DOWN AND
                                          NUMEROUS FIRES. POSSIBLE
                                          TORNADO REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGER.

0325 PM    PLYMOUTH                  NY   .5 INCH HAIL
05/31/98   CHENANGO                       HAIL REPORT FROM SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTER

0330 PM    BURLINGTON FLATS          NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         TREES UPROOTED.

0340 PM    COOPERSTOWN               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98   OTSEGO                         8 MILES N OF COOPERSTOWN
                                          TREES DOWN

0350 PM    OXFORD                    NY   50 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98   CHENANGO

0355 PM    NORTH NORWICH             NY   50 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98   CHENANGO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 11:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSeneca, Yates72 min
May 31, 11:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMCayuga, Onondaga72 min
May 31, 12:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMOneida76 min
May 31, 1:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSteuben63 min
May 31, 2:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSeneca, Yates61 min
May 31, 2:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMTompkins64 min
May 31, 2:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMCayuga, Cortland, Onondaga65 min
May 31, 2:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSteuben62 min
May 31, 2:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSchuyler63 min
May 31, 2:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMChemung64 min
May 31, 2:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMChenango, Madison63 min
May 31, 3:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMOtsego62 min
May 31, 3:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMChenango61 min
May 31, 3:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSteuben65 min
May 31, 4:08 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMChemung, Steuben62 min
May 31, 4:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMOnondaga62 min
May 31, 4:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMDelaware49 min
May 31, 4:52 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMTioga78 min
May 31, 4:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMCortland63 min
May 31, 5:08 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMSteuben62 min
May 31, 5:23 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMSchuyler62 min
May 31, 5:26 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMBroome64 min
May 31, 5:41 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMChenango64 min
May 31, 6:04 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMOtsego61 min
May 31, 6:22 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMBroome, Delaware63 min
May 31, 6:32 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMChemung, Tioga63 min
May 31, 6:48 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMBroome67 min
May 31, 6:54 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBGMSeneca2 hr
May 31, 7:10 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMDelaware65 min
May 31, 7:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSullivan61 min
May 31, 7:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMChemung, Tioga61 min
May 31, 7:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMBroome78 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.