Alert archive / New York / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 24, NWS Binghamton, NY

June 2, 1998Cayuga County, New York

NWS Binghamton, NY issued this tornado warning at Jun 2, 1998, 6:21 PM EDT for Cayuga County, New York. It was in force for 49 min. 1 report 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
Jun 2, 1998, 6:21 PM EDT (22:21 UTC)
Expired
Jun 2, 1998, 7:10 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Binghamton, NY
Area
Whole counties

County Cayuga County, NY

The radar

The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:22 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 2, 6:35 PM EDTHail 1.75King Ferry, NYThe same severe thunderstorm that produced damage earlier in both Yates and Seneca counties plowed eastward across southern Cayuga county. Widespread wind damage in the form of downed trees and power lines occurred in Kings Ferry, Auburn, Moravia, and Niles.

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
Jun 2, 5:15 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 173 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 1998-06-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3 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, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 1998-06-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 198 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
3 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-128 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1267 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
198 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
188 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.

381 
WFUS1 KBGM 022222 RRA
TORBGM
NYC011-022310-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
621 PM EDT TUE JUN 2 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BINGHAMTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN S CAYUGA COUNTY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK

* UNTIL 710 PM EDT

* AT 620 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO IN SENECA COUNTY NEAR SHELDRAKE... MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  JUST NORTH OF KING FERRY BY 625 PM EDT
  BETWEEN GENOA AND VENICE CENTER BY 635 PM EDT
  JUST NORTH OF MORAVIA BY 645 PM EDT

GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR

TOWNSEND

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jun 2, 2:20 PM EDT, 4 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 2, 2:20 PM EDT, 4 hours 1 minute before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
220 PM TUE JUN 2 1998

STILL IN WAIT AND SEE MODE REGARDING CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL THIS EVENING.
WARM FRONT MOVING THRU I-81 CORRIDOR AT THIS TIME. DEW POINTS ARE
QUICKLY JUMPING INTO THE LOW TO MID 50S...HOWEVER THE NOONTIME CLOUD
COVER HAS TEMPS ONLY IN THE LOW TO MID 60S ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS
(STILL IN THE 50S ACROSS THE EAST). TEMPS HAVE COME UP INTO THE MID 70S
ACROSS WRN NY AND NW PA. THE REAL JUICY AIR IS ASSOCIATED WITH A
SURFACE TROUGH MOVING INTO ERN OH ATTM. TEMPS BEHIND THIS FEATURE ARE
IN THE LOW 80S WITH DEW POINTS WELL INTO THE 60S WITH EVEN SOME 70 DEG
READINGS IN SRN OH. MEANWHILE...THE COLD FRONT IS APPCHG ERN MI.
PROBABLT THE KEY AREA TO WATCH THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS WILL BE NW PA
WHERE THE COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY INTERSECT THE SURFACE TROUGH.

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS...IT WILL BE A LATE SHOW.
AFTER 6 PM MOST AREAS...LATER EAST OF I-81. THE QUESTION WILL BE WHAT
HAPPENS AFTER SUNSET. ON SUNDAY THERE WAS ENOUGH ENERGY TO KEEP THINGS
GOING WELL AFTER SUNSET. IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT TODAY WITH THE LIMITED
MOISTURE. GREATEST THREAT WILL BE FROM THE RT 17 CORRIDOR SOUTHWARD.
NOTE...WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT OF WEAKENED TREES AND STRUCTURES...IT
MIGHT NOT TAKE VERY STRONG WINDS TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.  FLYING
DEBRIS (FROM SUNDAYS ACTIVITY) IS ALSO A THREAT.

THE COLD FRONT SWINGS THROUGH OVERNIGHT BRINGING AN UNUSUALLY COLD AIR
MASS. SC SHOULD BE ABUNDANT TOMORROW.  WILL GO PARTLY SUNNY WITH HIGHS
NOT MAKINING MUCH ABOVE 60.

BIG DIFFERENCE IN RH FIELDS BETWEEN NGM AND AVN/ETA. NGM BRINGS
MOISTURE MUCH FURTHER NORTH WED NT WITH FWCS GIVING CHC POPS ALL THE
WAY TO SYR. WITH NW FLOW...NO ISENTROPIC LIFT AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY WELL
TO THE SOUTH...I JUST DONT SEE IT. ON THE OTHER HAND...WITH CYCLONIC
FLOW AND NO STRONG SURFACE HIGH I DONT SEE A STRONG MECHANISM TO CLEAR
US OUT EITHER. JUST MORE SC.  WILL PLAY A DRY FORECAST WITH PARTLY
SUNNY DAYS AND MOSTLY CLOUDY WED NT.  FORTUNATELY THE CLOUDS...AND THE
FACT THAT THE WINDS SHOULD STAYUP A LITTLE WED NT PRECLUDES A FORST
THREAT.

.BGM...NONE.

WALDSTREICHER

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 2, 4:05 PM EDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
NYZ024-023-022-025-017-016-015-030200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
405 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

CHEMUNG NY...
SCHUYLER NY...
STEUBEN NY...
TOMPKINS NY...
S. CAYUGA NY...
SENECA NY...
YATES 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.

MORFORD
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 4:05 PM EDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
NYZ024-023-022-025-017-016-015-030200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
405 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

CHEMUNG NY...
SCHUYLER NY...
STEUBEN NY...
TOMPKINS NY...
S. CAYUGA NY...
SENECA NY...
YATES 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.

MORFORD
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 4:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
NYZ056-024-045-044-057-046-023-055-025-036-009-037-018-016-015-062-
PAZ038-044-047-048-039-040-043-030300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
448 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

BROOME NY...
CHEMUNG NY...
CHENANGO NY...
CORTLAND NY...
DELAWARE NY...
OTSEGO NY...
SCHUYLER NY...
TIOGA NY...
TOMPKINS NY...
MADISON NY...
N. ONEIDA NY...
S. ONEIDA NY...
ONONDAGA NY...
SENECA NY...
YATES NY...
SULLIVAN NY...
BRADFORD PA...
LACKAWANNA PA...
LUZERNE PA...
PIKE PA...
SUSQUEHANNA PA...
WAYNE PA...
WYOMING PA...

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
1100 PM EDT.

MORFORD
Special weather statement, Jun 2, 4:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
NYZ056-024-045-044-057-046-023-055-025-036-009-037-018-016-015-062-
PAZ038-044-047-048-039-040-043-030300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
448 PM EDT TUE JUN 02 1998

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

BROOME NY...
CHEMUNG NY...
CHENANGO NY...
CORTLAND NY...
DELAWARE NY...
OTSEGO NY...
SCHUYLER NY...
TIOGA NY...
TOMPKINS NY...
MADISON NY...
N. ONEIDA NY...
S. ONEIDA NY...
ONONDAGA NY...
SENECA NY...
YATES NY...
SULLIVAN NY...
BRADFORD PA...
LACKAWANNA PA...
LUZERNE PA...
PIKE PA...
SUSQUEHANNA PA...
WAYNE PA...
WYOMING PA...

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
1100 PM EDT.

MORFORD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 2, 6:01 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMSeneca, Yates49 min
Jun 2, 6:37 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMCortland48 min
Jun 2, 6:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMTompkins62 min
Jun 2, 7:14 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMChenango61 min
Jun 2, 7:24 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMCortland36 min
Jun 2, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMSteuben93 min
Jun 2, 7:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMBroome62 min
Jun 2, 7:58 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMOtsego92 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in New York, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes 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.