Alert archive / New York / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Buffalo, NY

March 31, 2026Allegany County, Cattaraugus County, Livingston County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this flash flood warning at Mar 31, 2026, 4:52 PM EDT for Allegany County, Cattaraugus County, Livingston County, New York. It was in force for 7 hr. 4 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: Mar 31, 2026, 4:52 PM EDT (20:52 UTC)
Expired: Apr 1, 2026, 12:00 AM EDT
In force: 7 hr
Issued by: NWS Buffalo, NY
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Allegany County, NY, Cattaraugus County, NY, Livingston County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:57 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
Mar 31, 5:45 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Houghton, NY	Delayed report. Extensive inundation of several campus roads and parking lots in Houghton.
Mar 31, 5:50 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	4 Wnw Canaseraga, NY	Delayed report. Water flowing over the roads between Swain Hill Road and Mill Road near the Swain Ski Center.
Mar 31, 6:00 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Wnw Fillmore, NY	Delayed report. Flooded roadways with numerous roads closed around Hume.
Mar 31, 6:00 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Ese Canaseraga, NY	Delayed report. Numerous reports of flooded roadways and closed roads between Canaseraga and Burns.

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 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 75 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 731 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 290 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 283 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

838 
WGUS51 KBUF 312052
FFWBUF
NYC003-009-051-010100-
/O.NEW.KBUF.FF.W.0001.260331T2052Z-260401T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
452 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Allegany County in western New York...
  East Central Cattaraugus County in western New York...
  Southwestern Livingston County in western New York...

* Until 900 PM EDT.

* At 452 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Dansville, Rushford, Houghton, Caneadea, Ossian, Canaseraga, 
  Birdsall, Short Tract, Rossburg, Fillmore, Dalton, Swain, Ossian 
  Center, Hardy Corners and Farmersville Station.

Law enforcement has reported several flooded streets in the 
Canaseraga area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where 
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become 
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or 
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 4248 7837 4252 7810 4252 7804 4253 7805
      4258 7766 4254 7766 4254 7772 4240 7773
      4235 7836

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

JM

3 follow-up statements

882 
WGUS71 KBUF 010037
FFSBUF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
837 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

NYC009-010047-
/O.CAN.KBUF.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260401T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cattaraugus NY-
837 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EAST CENTRAL CATTARAUGUS 
COUNTY...

Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to 
heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT Wednesday for 
portions of central and western New York.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 7766 4254 7772 4240 7773 4235 7831
      4249 7831 4258 7766

$$

NYC003-051-010100-
/O.CON.KBUF.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260401T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Allegany NY-Livingston NY-
837 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING 
FOR NORTHERN ALLEGANY AND SOUTHWESTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTIES...

At 837 PM EDT, gauge reports continues to indicate rises on area 
creeks and streams from earlier thunderstorms, especially along the 
Canaseraga Creek. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are 
possible in the warned area.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Gauges reported.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Dansville, Rushford, Houghton, Caneadea, Ossian, Canaseraga, 
  Birdsall, Short Tract, Rossburg, Fillmore, Swain, Ossian Center 
  and Hardy Corners.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 7766 4254 7772 4240 7773 4235 7831
      4249 7831 4258 7766

FLASH FLOOD...GAUGE INDICATED

$$

Brothers

296 
WGUS51 KBUF 010038
FFWBUF
NYC003-051-010400-
/O.EXT.KBUF.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260401T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
838 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Allegany County in western New York...
  Southwestern Livingston County in western New York...

* Until midnight EDT tonight.

* At 838 PM EDT, gauge reports continues to indicate rises on area 
  creeks and streams from earlier thunderstorms, especially along 
  the Canaseraga Creek. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches 
  are possible in the warned area.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Gauges reported.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Dansville, Rushford, Houghton, Caneadea, Ossian, Canaseraga, 
  Birdsall, Short Tract, Rossburg, Fillmore, Swain, Ossian Center 
  and Hardy Corners.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 7766 4254 7772 4240 7773 4235 7831
      4249 7831 4258 7766

FLASH FLOOD...GAUGE INDICATED

$$

Brothers

009 
WGUS71 KBUF 010401
FFSBUF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1201 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

NYC003-051-010411-
/O.EXP.KBUF.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260401T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Allegany NY-Livingston NY-
1201 AM EDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHERN ALLEGANY AND 
SOUTHWESTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. High water will gradually subside 
overnight. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT Wednesday for 
portions of central and western New York.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 7766 4254 7772 4240 7773 4235 7831
      4249 7831 4258 7766

$$

Hitchcock

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 31, 3:46 AM EDT	Small Craft Advisory	BUF		9 hr
Mar 31, 9:57 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	BUF	Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wyoming	98 min
Mar 31, 1:14 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	BUF	Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida	35 hr
Mar 31, 2:27 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		63 min
Mar 31, 2:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming	64 min
Mar 31, 3:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie, Livingston, Wyoming	49 min
Mar 31, 3:32 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	BUF	Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming	11 hr
Mar 31, 3:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus	32 min
Mar 31, 4:06 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Allegany, Livingston, Wyoming	39 min
Mar 31, 4:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Allegany	18 min
Mar 31, 6:25 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	BUF	Erie, Wyoming	6 hr
Mar 31, 6:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Chautauqua	47 min
Mar 31, 6:59 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	BUF	Monroe	48 hr
Mar 31, 7:02 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		43 min
Mar 31, 7:16 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	BUF	Livingston, Ontario	6 hr
Mar 31, 7:26 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		33 min
Mar 31, 7:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming	37 min
Mar 31, 7:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming	33 min
Mar 31, 7:59 PM EDT	River Flood Warning	BUF	Erie	7 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New York, 2026 Every flash flood 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.