Alert archive / New York / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026
Beach Hazards Statement 1, NWS Buffalo, NY
NWS Buffalo, NY issued this beach hazards statement at May 20, 2026, 3:54 AM EDT for Cayuga County, Jefferson County, Oswego County, New York. It took effect at May 20, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 27 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 20, 2026, 3:54 AM EDT (07:54 UTC)
- In effect from
- May 20, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
- Expired
- May 21, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT
- In force
- 27 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Buffalo, NY
Counties Cayuga County, NY, Jefferson County, NY, Oswego County, NY
The radar
The Ft Drum radar (KTYX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:52 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, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 206 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
- 216 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -31 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1733 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 138 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 169 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.6
The text
As transmitted.
636 WHUS41 KBUF 200754 CFWBUF Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Buffalo NY 354 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 NYZ005>007-201600- /O.NEW.KBUF.BH.S.0001.260520T1200Z-260521T0400Z/ Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson- 354 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions expected. * WHERE...Beaches of Northern Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson counties. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT this morning through this evening. * IMPACTS...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions. && $$
3 follow-up statements
738 WHUS41 KBUF 201539 CFWBUF Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1139 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 NYZ005>007-210400- /O.CON.KBUF.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0400Z/ Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson- 1139 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions. * WHERE...Beaches of Northern Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson counties. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions. && $$
082 WHUS41 KBUF 210350 CFWBUF Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1150 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026 NYZ007-210500- /O.CAN.KBUF.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0400Z/ Jefferson- 1150 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IS CANCELLED... $$ NYZ003-004-211500- /O.NEW.KBUF.BH.S.0002.260521T0600Z-260521T1500Z/ Monroe-Wayne- 1150 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions expected. * WHERE...Beaches of Monroe and Wayne counties. * WHEN...Until 11 AM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions. && $$ NYZ005-006-211500- /O.EXT.KBUF.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T1500Z/ Northern Cayuga-Oswego- 1150 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions. * WHERE...Beaches of Northern Cayuga and Oswego counties. * WHEN...Until 11 AM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions. && $$
517 WHUS41 KBUF 211446 CFWBUF Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Buffalo NY 1046 AM EDT Thu May 21 2026 NYZ005-006-211600- /O.EXP.KBUF.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T1500Z/ Northern Cayuga-Oswego- 1046 AM EDT Thu May 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING... Winds and waves will gradually lower through the afternoon. $$ NYZ003-004-211600- /O.EXP.KBUF.BH.S.0002.000000T0000Z-260521T1500Z/ Monroe-Wayne- 1046 AM EDT Thu May 21 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING... Winds and waves will gradually lower through the afternoon. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at May 20, 2:21 AM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) A cold front will move across the region this morning, bringing a few showers followed by drier and much cooler weather to close out the work week. 2) Unsettled weather returns for the holiday weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 20, 2:21 AM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
221 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Minor changes made from the previous forecast.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) A cold front will move across the region this morning, bringing a
few showers followed by drier and much cooler weather to close out
the work week.
2) Unsettled weather returns for the holiday weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...A cold front will move across the region this
morning, bringing a few showers followed by drier and much cooler
weather to close out the work week.
GOES water vapor imagery shows an upper level trough over east-
central Canada this morning. An area of low pressure is located over
central Quebec with an associated cold front stretching south across
southern Ontario. A moist and mild airmass resides across the
forecast area and scattered showers are possible early this morning.
The front will move across the forecast area later this morning and
drier and cooler air will filter into the region. Temperatures will
fall through the daytime hours with high temperatures met early in
the day. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 50s to low 60s
by late afternoon.
An abrupt cool down is expected across the region through the end of
the work week. Temperatures at 850 will fall to the single digits as
high pressure builds across the region. Low temperatures will fall
into the 40s tonight and Thursday night. A favorable set-up for
radiational cooling is expected Thursday night, especially east of
Lake Ontario and areas of patchy frost inland from Lake Ontario
can't be ruled out.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Unsettled weather returns for the holiday weekend.
Ensemble mean 500mb heights indicate an upper level ridge building
into the eastern Great Lakes region during the first half of the
weekend. Following this, the pattern is expected to become zonal
from Sunday through Monday. Deep southerly flow is expected to move
into the region ahead of a warm front Friday night through Saturday.
The chance of showers will increase from south to north across the
forecast area Friday night through Saturday. This time period
supports the potential for a widespread, soaking rain. Then, an
upper level trough is expected to move north of the Great Lakes
region Sunday through Monday, maintaining chances for showers and a
few storms. Temperatures will get back to seasonal normals Sunday
and Monday.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Showers will move across the forecast area overnight.
Reductions in flight cats will be possible within any heavier
showers to IFR VSBYs. Outside of showers, mainly VFR CIGs early
this morning will lower to MVFR and then IFR through daybreak as
a cold front crosses the region. Higher terrain LIFR will be
possible at times closer to daybreak for a few hours. A low
level jet will cause a few hours of LLWS from KIAG to KBUF & to
KROC.
Cooler and drier air will filter into the region behind the passing
cold front. This will result in improving flight conditions after
daybreak, with all terminals expected to be VFR by mid/late
morning, with KJHW taking the longest for flight categories to
improve.
Outlook...
Thursday through Friday...VFR.
Saturday and Sunday...Potential for low end VFR/MVFR due to a low
pressure system introducing rain to the region from the south.
&&
.MARINE...
A cold front will move across the eastern Great Lakes today.
Northwest winds will increase on the Lakes today, with an uptick
in winds on the eastern end of Lake Ontario. A Small Craft
Advisory is in effect for this region through this evening.
Winds will be lighter on Lake Erie, however may be enough to
produce choppy conditions.
Winds will then begin to relax as high pressure builds into the
region, however a tight pressure gradient may produce choppy
conditions on Lake Erie Thursday.
&&
.BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NY...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 2 AM EDT
Thursday for LOZ043>045.
&&
DISCUSSION...HSK
AVIATION...SW
MARINE...HSKHazardous weather outlook, May 20, 2:42 AM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Buffalo NY 242 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 NYZ001>008-010>014-019>021-085-210645- Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson-Lewis- Northern Erie-Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston-Ontario-Chautauqua- Cattaraugus-Allegany-Southern Erie- 242 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western and north central New York. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf LEZ020-040-041-LOZ030-042>045-062>065-SLZ022-024-210645- Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Ripley to Dunkirk- Lake Erie nearshore waters from Dunkirk to Buffalo- Lower Niagara River- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River- Lake Ontario open waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach- Lake Ontario open waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay- Lake Ontario open waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay- Lake Ontario open waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River- Saint Lawrence River from Cape Vincent to Ogdensburg- Saint Lawrence River from Ogdensburg to Saint Regis- 242 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the New York waters of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Saint Lawrence River. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 19, 10:53 PM EDT, 5 hours 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1053 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0915 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Hilton 43.29N 77.79W
05/19/2026 Monroe NY Public
Home weather station in Hilton recorded a
51mph wind gust with several trees and power
lines down in the neighborhood.
&&
PPLocal storm report, May 19, 11:10 PM EDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1110 PM EDT Tue May 19 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0820 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SW Clarence Center 42.99N 78.65W
05/19/2026 Erie NY Public
Tree downed on Thompson Road between Roll
Road and Greiner Road.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Buffalo, NY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 8:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | BUF | Genesee, Orleans | 35 min |
| May 19, 9:19 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | BUF | Monroe | 41 min |
| May 19, 10:35 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BUF | 28 min | |
| May 19, 10:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BUF | Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego | 46 min |
Nearby
Beach Hazards Statements in New York, 2026Every beach hazards statement 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.