Alert archive / New York / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009

Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS Buffalo, NY

August 9, 20094 counties in New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this flash flood warning at Aug 9, 2009, 11:26 PM EDT for 4 counties in New York. It was in force for 3 hr. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 9, 2009, 11:26 PM EDT (03:26 UTC)
Expired: Aug 10, 2009, 2:30 AM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Buffalo, NY
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Allegany County, NY, Cattaraugus County, NY, Chautauqua County, NY, Erie County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:27 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
Aug 9, 11:45 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Sardinia, NY	ROUTE 39 CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. TRAFFIC BEING REROUTED
Aug 9, 11:55 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Silver Creek, NY	EXTENSIVE STREET AND BASEMENT FLOODING. LAKE SHORE HOSPITAL ER FLOODED.
Aug 10, 12:00 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Perrysburg, NY	EXTENSIVE BASEMENT FLOODING. DRIVEWAY WASHED OUT. LARGE TREE UPROOTED DUE TO FLOODING.
Aug 10, 12:30 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Silver Creek, NY	WIDESPREAD FLOODING. NUMEROUS ROADS UNDERWATER.
Aug 10, 2:00 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Sw Gowanda, NY	* 1 FATAL * MAN SWEPT AWAY ON BRIDGE ON FEEDER STREAM TO CATT.CREEK. TIME APPROXIMATE.
Aug 10, 2:00 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Silver Creek, NY	100 BOATS DAMAGED DUE TO FLOOD WAVE COMING DOWN CATTARAUGUS CREEK. APPROX 50 BOATS WERE SHOVED OUT INTO LAKE ERIE...ANOTHER 50 REMAINED IN THE CREEK. MOST WERE DAMAGED. REPORT FROM AERIAL REPORT.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 00:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 69 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: 2759 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -61 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 833 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 103 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 270 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.7
Supercell composite: 16.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS51 KBUF 100326
FFWBUF
NYC003-009-013-029-100630-
/O.NEW.KBUF.FF.W.0016.090810T0326Z-090810T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1126 PM EDT SUN AUG 9 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN ALLEGANY COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...
  CATTARAUGUS COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SALAMANCA...
  NORTHERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...DUNKIRK...FREDONIA...
  SOUTHERN ERIE COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...

* UNTIL 230 AM EDT

* AT 1122 PM EDT...VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS INDICATED BY RADAR ACROSS THE
  WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY
ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW
LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4229 7971 4240 7949 4251 7935 4257 7916
      4272 7902 4253 7846 4250 7796 4209 7799
      4217 7977 4224 7978

$$

SAGE

2 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS71 KBUF 100441
FFSBUF

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1241 AM EDT MON AUG 10 2009

NYC003-009-013-029-100630-
/O.CON.KBUF.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-090810T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHAUTAUQUA NY-CATTARAUGUS NY-ALLEGANY NY-ERIE NY-
1241 AM EDT MON AUG 10 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHERN ERIE...WESTERN ALLEGANY...CATTARAUGUS AND NORTHERN
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES...

AS OF 1235 AM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED 
EXTENSIVE FLOODING IN SILVER CREEK...SUNSET BAY AND FORESTVILLE. 
RADAR ESTIMATES ARE AS HIGH AS 4 TO 6 INCHES IN THE PAST FEW HOURS.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SARDINIA...
OTTO...EAST CONCORD...DUNKIRK...DERBY...COLLINS...SPRINGVILLE...
SILVER CREEK...NORTH COLLINS...LAKE ERIE BEACH...HOUGHTON...
GOWANDA...FREDONIA...EDEN...ANGOLA ON THE LAKE AND ANGOLA

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY
ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW
LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT MONDAY
MORNING FOR WESTERN NEW YORK.

&&

LAT...LON 4229 7971 4240 7949 4251 7935 4257 7916
      4272 7902 4253 7846 4250 7796 4209 7799
      4217 7977 4224 7978

$$

SAGE

000 
WGUS71 KBUF 100633
FFSBUF

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
233 AM EDT MON AUG 10 2009

NYC003-009-013-029-100640-
/O.EXP.KBUF.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-090810T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHAUTAUQUA NY-CATTARAUGUS NY-ALLEGANY NY-ERIE NY-
233 AM EDT MON AUG 10 2009

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHERN ERIE...WESTERN
ALLEGANY...CATTARAUGUS AND NORTHERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES...

DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RAINS LATE SUNDAY EVENING...PONDING OF LOW 
LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR AWHILE UNTIL THE 
WATER HAS TIME TO RUN OFF. CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL CONTINUE TO RUN 
HIGH AS WELL.

WATER MAY STILL COVER ROADS IN SOME AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE 
INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. 

LAT...LON 4229 7971 4240 7949 4251 7935 4257 7916
      4272 7902 4253 7846 4250 7796 4209 7799
      4217 7977 4224 7978

$$

TMA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 9, 8:04 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Wayne	3 hr
Aug 9, 8:41 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		94 min
Aug 9, 8:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans	92 min
Aug 9, 9:17 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Cayuga, Wayne	3 hr
Aug 9, 9:28 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming	77 min
Aug 9, 9:44 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		91 min
Aug 9, 10:08 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wyoming	67 min
Aug 9, 10:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Livingston, Wyoming	71 min
Aug 9, 10:28 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Monroe, Ontario, Wayne	65 min
Aug 9, 10:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Livingston, Ontario and 1 more	70 min
Aug 9, 10:59 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Wayne	64 min
Aug 9, 11:18 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		57 min
Aug 10, 12:01 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua	59 min
Aug 10, 12:56 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	BUF	Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming	13 hr
Aug 10, 3:18 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	BUF	Erie	10 hr
Aug 10, 4:25 AM EDT	Flash Flood Watch	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee and 7 more	17 hr
Aug 10, 4:40 AM EDT	Small Craft Advisory	BUF		10 hr
Aug 10, 5:15 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Genesee, Niagara, Orleans	109 min
Aug 10, 6:02 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne	109 min
Aug 10, 6:38 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		52 min
Aug 10, 6:43 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Chautauqua	3 hr
Aug 10, 9:33 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	BUF	Erie, Wyoming	4 hr
Aug 10, 2:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Ontario, Wayne	55 min
Aug 10, 2:52 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Chautauqua	76 min
Aug 10, 3:17 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Wayne	58 min
Aug 10, 3:46 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BUF	Wayne	6 hr
Aug 10, 4:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Cayuga	20 min
Aug 10, 4:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Niagara	30 min
Aug 10, 5:08 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Niagara	45 min
Aug 10, 5:12 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		40 min
Aug 10, 5:45 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		99 min
Aug 10, 6:21 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Monroe, Wayne	54 min
Aug 10, 6:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Wayne	55 min
Aug 10, 7:00 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		43 min
Aug 10, 7:08 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Wayne	3 hr
Aug 10, 7:41 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Cayuga	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New York, 2009 Every flash flood warning in 2009

Sources

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