Alert archive / New York / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 2, NWS Albany, NY
NWS Albany, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 31, 2026, 8:31 PM EDT for Columbia County, New York; Bennington County, Vermont; Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 31, 2026, 8:31 PM EDT (00:31 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 31, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 29 min
- Issued by
- NWS Albany, NY
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Berkshire County, MA, Columbia County, NY, Bennington County, VT
The radar
The Albany radar (KENX), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:34 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 7:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 3 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 67 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
- 12 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -27 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1463 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 108 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 234 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.2
The text
As transmitted.
439
WUUS51 KALY 010031
SVRALY
MAC003-NYC021-VTC003-010100-
/O.NEW.KALY.SV.W.0002.260401T0031Z-260401T0100Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Albany NY
831 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Berkshire County in western Massachusetts...
East central Columbia County in east central New York...
South central Bennington County in southern Vermont...
* Until 900 PM EDT.
* At 831 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Stamford to Housatonic, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, Lee, Lenox, Cheshire,
Becket, Otis, Stamford, Readsboro, Florida, Savoy, New Ashford,
Berkshire, Dalton, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Stockbridge, and
Richmond.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
Please report hail size...damaging winds and reports of trees down to
the National Weather Service by email at Alb.Stormreport@noaa.gov...
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/nwsalbany or twitter @nwsalbany
LAT...LON 4274 7302 4270 7302 4270 7295 4267 7300
4266 7298 4267 7296 4264 7295 4239 7301
4238 7307 4233 7306 4231 7303 4231 7300
4225 7300 4215 7303 4215 7307 4234 7349
4250 7333 4280 7314 4277 7293 4274 7293
TIME...MOT...LOC 0031Z 289DEG 37KT 4273 7304 4224 7335
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
CS2 follow-up statements
223
WWUS51 KALY 010045
SVSALY
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
845 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
NYC021-VTC003-010054-
/O.CAN.KALY.SV.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260401T0100Z/
Columbia NY-Bennington VT-
845 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL COLUMBIA AND
SOUTH CENTRAL BENNINGTON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
&&
LAT...LON 4239 7301 4238 7305 4239 7306 4238 7307
4233 7306 4231 7303 4231 7300 4225 7300
4228 7336 4252 7314 4274 7304 4274 7303
4270 7302 4270 7295 4267 7300 4266 7298
4266 7296 4264 7295
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 288DEG 37KT 4269 7290 4220 7321
$$
MAC003-010100-
/O.CON.KALY.SV.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260401T0100Z/
Berkshire MA-
845 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
At 844 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Rowe to 6 miles west of Otis, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. A confirmed wind gust to 50mph was
reported at the Pittsfield airport.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Pittsfield, Lee, Lenox, Becket, Florida, Savoy, Dalton, Hinsdale,
Stockbridge, Windsor, Peru, Washington, Glendale, New Lenox, Lenox
Dale, Eastern Summit, Yankee Orchards, Wheatleigh, Whitcomb Summit,
and Lenox Station.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading
killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to
be struck by lightning.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4239 7301 4238 7305 4239 7306 4238 7307
4233 7306 4231 7303 4231 7300 4225 7300
4228 7336 4252 7314 4274 7304 4274 7303
4270 7302 4270 7295 4267 7300 4266 7298
4266 7296 4264 7295
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 288DEG 37KT 4269 7290 4220 7321
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
CS608
WWUS51 KALY 010050
SVSALY
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
850 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
MAC003-010100-
/O.EXP.KALY.SV.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260401T0100Z/
Berkshire MA-
850 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY
WILL EXPIRE AT 900 PM EDT...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.
&&
LAT...LON 4239 7301 4238 7305 4239 7306 4238 7307
4233 7306 4231 7303 4231 7300 4225 7300
4228 7336 4252 7314 4274 7304 4274 7303
4270 7302 4270 7295 4267 7300 4266 7298
4266 7296 4264 7295
TIME...MOT...LOC 0050Z 289DEG 37KT 4267 7283 4218 7314
$$
CSWhat 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 Albany, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 31, 7:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Confidence is low in the development of severe thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening. 2) Additional periods of moderate to locally heavy rainfall this afternoon through early tomorrow morning will lead to minor to moderate river flooding in the western Mohawk Valley and isolated ponding of water in urban and poor drainage areas. 3) Numerous chances for rain over the coming seven days maintain the potential for additional minor river and urbanized flooding, though confidence is low in the overall flood threat at this time.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 7:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albany NY 702 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Though the Marginal Risk for severe weather remains in place across a large portion of eastern New York and western New England, the threat for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and this evening has diminished significantly. That said, the potential for non-severe thunderstorms remains elevated. The storm total precipitation forecast has also increased, particularly for areas to the north and west of Albany where amounts from this morning's initial round of rainfall measured higher than previously expected. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Confidence is low in the development of severe thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening. 2) Additional periods of moderate to locally heavy rainfall this afternoon through early tomorrow morning will lead to minor to moderate river flooding in the western Mohawk Valley and isolated ponding of water in urban and poor drainage areas. 3) Numerous chances for rain over the coming seven days maintain the potential for additional minor river and urbanized flooding, though confidence is low in the overall flood threat at this time. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1... Predominant southwesterly flow and eastward progressing outflow from upstream convection has allowed drier air to sneak into the region this afternoon, providing a respite from rainfall that has been ongoing for most of the day thus far. Finally, a few breaks in cloud coverage are appearing on visible satellite, allowing scattered, low-level billow clouds to be seen beneath thinning high clouds, particularly across the Southern Adirondacks and eastern Catskills. These clouds provide increased confidence in the validity of the capped to minimally surface- based unstable environment shown on the SPC Hourly Mesoscale Analysis page and hinted at in the latest HiRes soundings. As was the thought in the previous forecast, a stationary boundary remains in place just inside our northern CWA boundary with a parent area of low pressure spreading from southwest to northeast from northern Illinois to the eastern Great Lakes just to the west of the NY border. Stringing three low pressure centers together is a trailing cold front that extends as far south and west as the Southern Plains. Flow aloft remains quasi-zonal with weak, embedded shortwaves in the mid-levels providing the primary upper-level forcing for ascent. Warm air and moisture advection in the broad pseudo-warm sector of the low pressure area has maintained mild temperatures and dewpoints across our forecast area, but this morning's rain and limited radiation have and should continue to maintain our low- level stable layer. This late in the day, it is going to be very difficult to erode this inversion, particularly due to the fact that persistent, though weak, warm air advection will prevent lapse rates from becoming steep enough to threaten any severe thunderstorm development. Therefore, most, if not all, instability that currently exists and persists across our area through this evening will remain elevated. That said, with sufficient elevated instability around 500-1000 J/kg and lapse rates maximizing around 6.5-7 C/km, the potential for non-severe thunderstorms still exits. For these reasons, we maintained the NBM slight chance to chance thunder within the showers that filter back into the region this afternoon through tonight ahead of and along the incoming cold front. It is also for these reasons that, in coordination with SPC and our neighboring offices, we have not issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch at this time. An isolated severe thunderstorm with the primary threat of strong to locally damaging wind gusts certainly is a non-zero probability at this point, given some HiRes guidance solutions seem to either not resolve the aforementioned cap, or allow surface-based parcels to overcome it. But, confidence is high enough at this point to message that widespread severe convection is not likely this afternoon into this evening. KEY MESSAGE 2... While forecast soundings aren't exactly alluding to severe convection this afternoon, they are certainly supporting efficient rainfall through tonight. Tall, skinny CAPE profiles and deep, moist thermal layers indicate the potential for moderate to locally heavy downpours particularly where any thunderstorms may develop. Additionally, the alignment of the southwesterly 925-850 mb nocturnal jet this evening just ahead of the front will enhance moisture transport into the region and possibly expand areas of moderate to locally heavy rainfall from the Southwest Adirondacks and western Mohawk Valley to areas farther south and east. From the Capital District northward, about 0.25" to nearly 2" of rain has fallen thus far today. Given the favored environment for additional rainfall and potential heavier rates, another 0.5" to 1" is expected through tomorrow morning. The greatest rainfall is expected within the area currently under a Flood Watch (Southern Adirondacks and western Mohawk Valley), though the Eastern Catskills, Lake George-Saratoga Region, and Capital District could also see some higher QPF by tomorrow. There has already been minor to moderate flooding on the West Canada Creek with additional minor to potentially moderate flooding possible in the western Mohawk Valley through tomorrow morning. However, anywhere that gets some moderate to locally heavy rainfall rates could see some localized ponding of water in urban or poor drainage areas. Flash flooding, however, is not expected. KEY MESSAGE 3... Thursday is looking to be a dreary day in store with overcast skies and medium to high (60-80%) chances for precipitation as our next weather system moves through eastern New York and western New England. The current forecast supports the precipitation type to be rain for most of eastern New York and western New England as temperatures stay above freezing. Locations for this exception are across the southwestern Adirondacks and high terrain of the southern Greens, where light freezing rain, then a light mix of rain and snow can occur Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Confidence continues to increase for periods. This could lead to a few slick spots on non-pavement surfaces in the southwestern Adirondacks and highest terrain locations of the southern Greens Thursday morning. Temperatures gradually rise Thursday morning to above freezing for precipitation to change over to plain rain. Precipitation chances decrease Thursday night to less than 50%. With the latest forecast supporting light precipitation amounts less a quarter inch, confidence continues to increase for no significant flooding impacts to occur for Thursday. && .AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... A large cluster of showers and embedded thunderstorms is approaching the area from the west. While KPOU may stay just south of the bulk of the activity, the other sites will be impacted by rain, with thunder also expected for KALB and KPSF. IFR visibility of around 2SM within rainfall is expected for one to two hours at the start of the TAF period. Behind this batch of convection, some additional showers are possible through about midnight or so, but this activity will be more scattered and will include a TEMPO to address the variable conditions, with mainly MVFR within that activity. Winds will be south to southwest around 5-10 kts, although some locally higher gusts cannot be ruled out within thunderstorm activity. The bulk of the precip should be done for all sites towards 04z-06z or so. While there will be limited precip for the late night hours, flying conditions may be VFR for a period with winds becoming west to southwest towards daybreak. As a frontal boundary drops southward out of the north, winds will become north to northwest on Wednesday morning. Flying conditions will lower to MVFR as low stratus develops behind the departing frontal boundary. These MVFR cigs will be in place all day, with a cooler northerly flow in place. Ceilings may be borderline IFR during the morning right behind the front at KGFL, but will keep MVFR for now. Some improvement is possible late in the day, but it will likely still be MVFR for all sites, although no precip is expected. Outlook... Wednesday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of RA. Thursday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of RA. Thursday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of RA. Friday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of RA. Friday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of RA. Saturday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of RA. Saturday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Likely RA. Sunday: Moderate Operational Impact. Breezy. Likely RA. && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. NY...Flood Watch through Wednesday evening for NYZ032-033-038. MA...None. VT...None. && DISCUSSION...12 AVIATION...27
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 31, 8:11 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
811 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
NYZ047-058-059-063-064-010115-
Western Ulster NY-Eastern Greene NY-Western Greene NY-Schoharie NY-
Eastern Ulster NY-
811 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN ULSTER...GREENE AND
SOUTH CENTRAL SCHOHARIE COUNTIES THROUGH 915 PM EDT...
At 811 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Prattsville to near Roscoe. Movement was
east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Catskill, Hunter, Woodstock, Coxsackie, Windham, Athens, Prattsville,
West Hurley, North-South Lake Campground, Woodland Valley Campground,
West Shokan, Kenneth L Wilson Campground, Phoenicia, Mount Tremper,
Lanesville, Olivebridge, Cairo, Shandaken, Ashland, and Jewett.
This includes Interstate 87 near exit 21.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT for
east central New York.
&&
LAT...LON 4174 7457 4175 7457 4188 7445 4202 7478
4212 7456 4215 7453 4214 7450 4217 7445
4220 7454 4235 7443 4239 7453 4239 7444
4235 7379 4230 7378 4225 7380 4224 7384
4221 7385 4169 7448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 276DEG 33KT 4233 7448 4191 7500
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CSThe office that day
Everything else NWS Albany, NY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 8:11 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ALY | Greene, Ulster | 64 min |
| Mar 31, 8:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Columbia, Greene, Schoharie, Ulster | 57 min |
| Mar 31, 9:16 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ALY | Columbia | 44 min |
| Mar 31, 9:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ALY | Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Ulster | 65 min |
| Mar 31, 9:52 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | ALY | Herkimer, Oneida | 6 days |
| Mar 31, 10:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | ALY | Columbia | 24 min |
| Apr 1, 4:12 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ALY | Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida | 42 hr |
| Apr 1, 8:50 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | ALY | Herkimer | 23 hr |
| Apr 1, 4:23 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | ALY | Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga | 12 hr |
| Apr 1, 4:47 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | ALY | Bennington | 112 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New York, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Vermont, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026
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.