Alert archive / New York / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 17, NWS Buffalo, NY

September 3, 2026Erie County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this flash flood warning at Sep 3, 2026, 7:27 PM EDT for Erie County, New York. It was in force for 4 hr. 11 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
Sep 3, 2026, 7:27 PM EDT (23:27 UTC)
Expired
Sep 3, 2026, 11:22 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Buffalo, NY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Erie County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 5 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:29 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 3, 7:45 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 S Kenmore, NY3 water rescues at Linden Ave. and Delaware Ave. Water up to car doors.
Sep 3, 7:45 PM EDTFLASH FLOODKenmore, NY2.26 inches of rain in an hour from 6:45 to 7:45. Water over the curb on Wardman Road.
Sep 3, 7:47 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 N Depew, NYReport from mPING: Street/road flooding; Street/road closed; Vehicles stranded.
Sep 3, 7:50 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sse Kenmore, NYParkside Avenue, Linden Avenue, Elmwood Avenue and Hertel Avenue closed due to flooding.
Sep 3, 7:50 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sse Kenmore, NY2 water rescues at underpass at Linden Ave. and Colvin Ave.
Sep 3, 7:54 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 W Tonawanda, NYRamp I-190 South To I-290 East is closed. Additional lanes on the 190 are blocked by standing water.
Sep 3, 8:15 PM EDTFLASH FLOODDepew, NYTransit Road closed from Walden to Broadway due to flooding.
Sep 3, 8:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse Kenmore, NYSeveral inches of water flowing over Virgil Avenue creating widespread flooding along the street.
Sep 3, 8:36 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 N Cheektowaga, NYRoute 33 West is closed from Genesee to Union Road due to flooding.
Sep 3, 9:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Nnw Cheektowaga, NYSeveral On/Off ramps closed at the I-90 and Route 33 interchange.
Sep 3, 9:00 PM EDTRAIN 3.291 Nw Kenmore, NYFell in 2 1/2 hours.

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, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 9 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-09-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 243 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-09-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
243 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-109 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
801 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
99 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

900 
WGUS51 KBUF 032327
FFWBUF
NYC029-040330-
/O.NEW.KBUF.FF.W.0017.260903T2327Z-260904T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
727 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Erie County in western New York...

* Until 1130 PM EDT.

* At 727 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 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 indicated.

  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...
  Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Kenmore, Depew, Amherst, Tonawanda,
  Lancaster, Williamsville and Grand Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4301 7902 4301 7898 4302 7898 4301 7896
      4301 7890 4302 7888 4299 7862 4297 7860
      4297 7855 4294 7852 4292 7852 4292 7851
      4289 7851 4288 7855 4292 7887 4293 7887
      4293 7891 4296 7893 4296 7896 4299 7901

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

JJR
3 follow-up statements
192 
WGUS71 KBUF 032342
FFSBUF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
742 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NYC029-040330-
/O.CON.KBUF.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260904T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Erie NY-
742 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1130 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ERIE COUNTY...

At 742 PM EDT, Trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms
producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5
inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1
inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already
occurring.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban
         areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Kenmore, Depew, Amherst, Tonawanda,
  Lancaster, Williamsville and Grand Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4301 7902 4301 7898 4302 7898 4301 7896
      4301 7890 4302 7888 4299 7862 4297 7860
      4297 7855 4294 7852 4292 7852 4292 7851
      4289 7851 4288 7855 4292 7887 4293 7887
      4293 7891 4296 7893 4296 7896 4299 7901

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

JJR
284 
WGUS71 KBUF 040146
FFSBUF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
946 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NYC029-040330-
/O.CON.KBUF.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260904T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Erie NY-
946 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1130 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY...

At 946 PM EDT, while the heavy rain that produced between 2 and 3.5
inches of rain within the warned area earlier this evening has since
ended. local law enforcement reported that some area roadways remain
flooded. Flooding impacts will continue for a while longer, but no
additional rainfall is expected.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Law enforcement 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...
  Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Kenmore, Depew, Amherst, Tonawanda,
  Lancaster, Williamsville and Grand Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4301 7902 4301 7898 4302 7898 4301 7896
      4301 7890 4302 7888 4299 7862 4297 7860
      4297 7855 4294 7852 4292 7852 4292 7851
      4289 7851 4288 7855 4292 7887 4293 7887
      4293 7891 4296 7893 4296 7896 4299 7901

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

JJR
658 
WGUS71 KBUF 040322
FFSBUF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1122 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NYC029-040332-
/O.CAN.KBUF.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260904T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Erie NY-
1122 PM EDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHERN ERIE COUNTY...

The heavy rain has long since ended, and flooding is no longer
expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining road
closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4301 7902 4301 7898 4302 7898 4301 7896
      4301 7890 4302 7888 4299 7862 4297 7860
      4297 7855 4294 7852 4292 7852 4292 7851
      4289 7851 4288 7855 4292 7887 4293 7887
      4293 7891 4296 7893 4296 7896 4299 7901

$$

JJR

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 2, 8:07 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF53 min
Sep 2, 8:13 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF47 min
Sep 2, 8:46 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus4 hr
Sep 2, 8:55 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF95 min
Sep 2, 8:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFJefferson63 min
Sep 2, 9:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF56 min
Sep 2, 9:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus36 min
Sep 2, 9:50 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFMonroe14 hr
Sep 2, 10:00 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF90 min
Sep 2, 10:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua75 min
Sep 2, 10:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany43 min
Sep 2, 11:23 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFOrleans10 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New York, 2026Every 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.