Alert archive / New York / Flash Flood Warnings in 2004

Flash Flood Warning 15, NWS Buffalo, NY

May 24, 2004Cattaraugus County, Chautauqua County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this flash flood warning at May 24, 2004, 5:32 AM EDT for Cattaraugus County, Chautauqua County, New York. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 24, 2004, 5:32 AM EDT (09:32 UTC)
Expired: May 24, 2004, 8:30 AM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Buffalo, NY
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Cattaraugus County, NY, Chautauqua County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:36 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 00:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 89 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 234 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -161 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 812 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 300 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 368 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 3.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS51 KBUF 240934
FFWBUF
NYC009-013-241230-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
532 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK
  CATTARAUGUS COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK

* UNTIL 830 AM EDT

* AT 526 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR 
  THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN EXTENDING ACROSS WARREN...
  CRAWFORD...AND ERIE COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA...MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 50 MPH.

* THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING WILL BE NEAR...
  SHERMAN AT 545 AM EDT.
  CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTE AT 550 AM EDT.
  BARCELONA AT 555 AM EDT.
  FALCONER AT 600 AM EDT.
  SINCLAIRVILLE AT 605 AM EDT.
  RANDOLPH AT 610 AM EDT.
  DUNKIRK AT 615 AM EDT.
  SOUTH DAYTON AT 620 AM EDT.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING AN LOCALIZED RAINFALL OF 
AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO OF RAIN OVER AREAS WHICH RECEIVED HEAVY 
RAINS OVERNIGHT. 

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

LAT...LON 4200 7975 4223 7976 4249 7936 4244 7891
          4252 7832 4205 7833 4200 7938

$$

LEVAN

2 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS71 KBUF 241110
FFSBUF
NYC009-013-241230-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
707 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 830 AM EDT FOR CATTARAUGUS
AND CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES...

AT 705 AM EDT...AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO 
LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS EASTERN CHAUTAUQUA AND CATTARAGUS COUNTIES. 
THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
OTTO...HINSDALE...FINDLEY LAKE...DUNKIRK...CLYMER...CHAUTAUQUA 
INSTITUTE...ASHFORD HOLLOW...ASHFORD...ALLEGANY PARK...WESTON 
MILLS...WESTFIELD...ST. BONAVENTURE...SALAMANCA...OLEAN...MAYVILLE...
LAKEWOOD...JAMESTOWN WEST...JAMESTOWN...FREWSBURG...FREDONIA... 
FALCONER AND ALLEGANY.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES ANOTHER ONE HALF TO ONE INCH OF RAIN FELL 
OVER THESE AREAS DURING THE PAST TWO HOURS. SOME OF THESE SAME AREAS 
RECEIVED UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN OVERNIGHT.

THE SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO EXIT THE AREA BY 9AM. 

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. 
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW 
WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN.  IT 
ONLY TAKES A FEW INCHES OF SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES 
AWAY.


LAT...LON 4200 7975 4223 7976 4249 7936 4244 7891
          4252 7832 4205 7833 4200 7938

$$

LEVAN

000 
WGUS71 KBUF 241245
FFSBUF
NYC009-013-241315-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
845 AM EDT MON MAY 24 2004

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CATTARAUGUS AND CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES 
HAS EXPIRED...

AT 840 AM EDT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAD EXITED CATTARAUGUS AND 
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST.  THE CHAUTAUQUA 
COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED BASEMENT FLOODING AND WATER OVER ROADS IN 
JAMESTOWN.  THE CATTARAUGUS COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED THAT ROUTE 16... 
ABOUT A QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF ISCHUA...WAS FLOODING WITH FIRE 
OFFICIALS ON THE SCENE.  ADDITIONALLY...A SPOTTER NEAR ELLICOTTVILLE 
REPORTED A LOCAL STREAM CAME OUT OF ITS BANKS AND MOVED DEBRIS DOWN 
THE SLOPE OF A HILL.

WITH RAIN SUBSIDING...AND ANY FLOODING SPOTTY...THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.  STILL...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE 
INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY 
BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. IN HILLY TERRAIN 
THERE ARE MANY LOW WATER CROSSINGS...AND IT ONLY TAKES A FEW INCHES 
OF SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION BY LISTENING TO NOAA 
WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET.


LAT...LON 4200 7975 4223 7976 4249 7936 4244 7891
          4252 7832 4205 7833 4200 7938

$$

DJF

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 23, 11:02 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		88 min
May 23, 11:02 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		88 min
May 23, 11:10 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Oswego	3 hr
May 24, 12:03 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Erie, Niagara	57 min
May 24, 1:05 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Monroe, Wayne	3 hr
May 24, 1:08 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Monroe	37 min
May 24, 1:14 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Cattaraugus, Chautauqua	3 hr
May 24, 5:45 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		60 min
May 24, 6:21 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		54 min
May 24, 6:21 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		54 min
May 24, 6:21 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		54 min
May 24, 6:21 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		54 min
May 24, 6:21 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		54 min
May 24, 7:13 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Genesee	47 min
May 24, 7:43 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Monroe	47 min
May 24, 7:46 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		89 min
May 24, 3:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Oswego	42 min
May 24, 3:47 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Lewis	43 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New York, 2004 Every flash flood warning in 2004

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.