Alert archive / New York / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Buffalo, NY

July 18, 20264 counties in New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2026, 12:55 PM EDT for 4 counties in New York. It was in force for 6 hr. 12 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: Jul 18, 2026, 12:55 PM EDT (16:55 UTC)
Expired: Jul 18, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Buffalo, NY
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Genesee County, NY, Monroe County, NY, Niagara County, NY, Orleans County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:54 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
Jul 18, 1:20 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 S Clarendon, NY	Route 237 closed due to flooding.
Jul 18, 1:30 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Wsw Brighton, NY	Traffic camera showing flooding of 2 lanes of I-390 at Henrietta Road.
Jul 18, 1:47 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	3 E Rochester, NY	Flooding of 2 to 4 inches over entirety of Culver Road and Melville Street intersection.
Jul 18, 1:50 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	North Chili, NY	Social media pictures of flooding of residential streets in North Chili.
Jul 18, 1:51 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Ene Brighton, NY	All lanes northbound closed due to flooding.
Jul 18, 1:52 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	3 Ne Brighton, NY	Traffic Cameras showing flooding of left lane on I-590 north of Blossom Road.
Jul 18, 2:00 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Nw Henrietta, NY	Several roads completely flooded around Henrietta area including Calkins Road and Jefferson Road.
Jul 18, 3:15 PM EDT	RAIN 3.12	1 Ne Lockport, NY	Spotter Report. Also several roads flooded near measurement site.
Jul 18, 3:16 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 S Lockport, NY	Transit Road is closing down near the Lockport Plaza due to flooding.
Jul 18, 3:20 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Ne Lockport, NY	Market Street closed down due to flooding.
Jul 18, 3:30 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Medina, NY	Numerous roads flooded around Medina area.
Jul 18, 3:40 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Wnw Medina, NY	Excessive runoff and storm drain backup from heavy rainfall producing flooding at the Orleans Community Health Hospital, with water now reaching into the lower level of the hospital.

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, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 35 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: 176 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -138 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 958 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 173 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 212 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

355 
WGUS51 KBUF 181655
FFWBUF
NYC037-055-063-073-182100-
/O.NEW.KBUF.FF.W.0006.260718T1655Z-260718T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1255 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Genesee County in western New York...
  Monroe County in western New York...
  Southeastern Niagara County in western New York...
  Orleans County in western New York...

* Until 500 PM EDT.

* At 1255 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up 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...
  Rochester, Greece, Irondequoit, Chili, Lockport, Brockport, East 
  Rochester, Medina, Albion, Hilton, Webster, Brighton, Gates-North 
  Gates, Henrietta, Penfield, Spencerport, Byron, Churchville, 
  Middleport and Holley.

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 4328 7841 4330 7794 4322 7740 4302 7752
      4309 7836 4308 7846 4308 7850 4310 7851
      4309 7856 4307 7860 4310 7864 4308 7865
      4308 7868 4317 7874 4322 7874

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Brothers/DK

3 follow-up statements

766 
WGUS71 KBUF 181734
FFSBUF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
134 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NYC037-055-063-073-182100-
/O.CON.KBUF.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260718T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Genesee NY-Monroe NY-Niagara NY-Orleans NY-
134 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR NORTHERN GENESEE, MONROE, SOUTHEASTERN NIAGARA AND 
ORLEANS COUNTIES...

At 134 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have 
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the 
warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing.

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

SOURCE...Radar.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Rochester, Greece, Irondequoit, Chili, Lockport, Brockport, East 
  Rochester, Medina, Albion, Hilton, Webster, Brighton, Gates-North 
  Gates, Henrietta, Penfield, Spencerport, Byron, Churchville, 
  Middleport and Holley.

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 4328 7841 4330 7794 4322 7740 4302 7752
      4309 7836 4308 7846 4308 7850 4310 7851
      4309 7856 4307 7860 4310 7864 4308 7865
      4308 7868 4317 7874 4322 7874

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

Brothers/DK

665 
WGUS51 KBUF 181856
FFWBUF
NYC037-055-063-073-182300-
/O.EXT.KBUF.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260718T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
256 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Genesee County in western New York...
  Monroe County in western New York...
  Southeastern Niagara County in western New York...
  Orleans County in western New York...

* Until 700 PM EDT.

* At 256 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain. Another line of thunderstorms will be moving through 
  the warned area with rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches possible. 
  Between 2 and 3 inches of rain has already fallen with previous 
  storms this afternoon. Flash flooding is already occurring.

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

  SOURCE...Radar.

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

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Rochester, Greece, Irondequoit, Chili, Lockport, Brockport, East 
  Rochester, Medina, Albion, Hilton, Webster, Brighton, Gates-North 
  Gates, Henrietta, Penfield, Spencerport, Byron, Churchville, 
  Middleport and Holley.

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 4328 7841 4330 7794 4322 7740 4302 7752
      4309 7836 4308 7846 4308 7850 4310 7851
      4309 7856 4307 7860 4310 7864 4308 7865
      4308 7868 4317 7874 4322 7874

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

Brothers/DK

217 
WGUS71 KBUF 182259
FFSBUF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
659 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NYC037-055-063-073-182309-
/O.EXP.KBUF.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260718T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Genesee NY-Monroe NY-Niagara NY-Orleans NY-
659 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR 
NORTHERN GENESEE, MONROE, SOUTHEASTERN NIAGARA AND ORLEANS 
COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4328 7841 4330 7794 4322 7740 4302 7752
      4309 7836 4308 7846 4308 7850 4310 7851
      4309 7856 4307 7860 4310 7864 4308 7865
      4308 7868 4317 7874 4322 7874

$$

TMA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 18, 3:46 AM EDT	Beach Hazards Statement	BUF	Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Jefferson, Monroe, Orleans and 2 more	26 hr
Jul 18, 10:43 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		51 min
Jul 18, 11:41 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans	64 min
Jul 18, 12:04 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		56 min
Jul 18, 12:35 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne	70 min
Jul 18, 1:05 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	BUF	Ontario	40 min
Jul 18, 1:06 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		54 min
Jul 18, 1:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Genesee, Niagara, Orleans	65 min
Jul 18, 1:59 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		46 min
Jul 18, 2:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans	81 min
Jul 18, 2:44 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	BUF	Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans	31 min
Jul 18, 3:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne	65 min
Jul 18, 3:32 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		43 min
Jul 18, 3:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Wyoming	47 min
Jul 18, 3:54 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	BUF	Monroe	15 hr
Jul 18, 4:05 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	BUF	Livingston, Monroe, Ontario	4 hr
Jul 18, 4:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BUF	Cattaraugus, Chautauqua	50 min
Jul 18, 4:35 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	BUF		85 min

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.