Alert archive / New York / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 17, NWS Buffalo, NY

April 14, 2026Jefferson County, Lewis County, Oswego County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 14, 2026, 10:27 AM EDT for Jefferson County, Lewis County, Oswego County, New York. It was in force for 48 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
Apr 14, 2026, 10:27 AM EDT (14:27 UTC)
Expired
Apr 14, 2026, 11:15 AM EDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Buffalo, NY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Jefferson County, NY, Lewis County, NY, Oswego County, NY

The radar

The Ft Drum radar (KTYX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:28 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 nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 223 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 2026-04-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 175 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°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 2026-04-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 238 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
175 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-90 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
929 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
262 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

299 
WUUS51 KBUF 141427
SVRBUF
NYC045-049-075-141515-
/O.NEW.KBUF.SV.W.0017.260414T1427Z-260414T1515Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1027 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southern Jefferson County in central New York...
  Northwestern Lewis County in central New York...
  Northeastern Oswego County in central New York...

* Until 1115 AM EDT.

* At 1026 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Southwick
  Beach State Park, or 9 miles northwest of Sandy Island Beach State
  Park, moving east at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Watertown, Sandy Island Beach State Park, Fort Drum, Stony Point,
  Carthage, Lowville, West Carthage, Adams, Glen Park, and Herrings.

This includes Interstate 81 between exits 37 and 47.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Large hail, damaging wind, and frequent cloud to ground lightning 
are occurring with this storm. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4359 7626 4369 7626 4379 7630 4383 7636
      4387 7635 4384 7645 4385 7648 4387 7650
      4391 7650 4411 7547 4370 7540
TIME...MOT...LOC 1426Z 253DEG 42KT 4375 7631 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Welch
1 follow-up statement
478 
WWUS51 KBUF 141456
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1056 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

NYC045-049-075-141515-
/O.CON.KBUF.SV.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260414T1515Z/
Jefferson NY-Lewis NY-Oswego NY-
1056 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 AM EDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON...WEST CENTRAL LEWIS AND NORTHEASTERN
OSWEGO COUNTIES...

At 1056 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles southeast
of Adams, or 15 miles northeast of Sandy Island Beach State Park,
moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail 
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind 
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Lowville, Adams, Barnes Corners, Whetstone Gulf State Park, Denmark,
New Bremen, Watson, Martinsburg, Lorraine, and Copenhagen.

This includes Interstate 81 near exit 41.
 
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 this storm.
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.

&&

LAT...LON 4362 7604 4382 7604 4398 7545 4370 7540
TIME...MOT...LOC 1456Z 258DEG 45KT 4373 7592 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Welch

What 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 Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 14, 5:14 AM EDT, 5 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Warm with rounds of showers and thunderstorms through much of the week. 2) Marginal risk for isolated severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 14, 5:14 AM EDT, 5 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
514 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes have been made with this update.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Warm with rounds of showers and thunderstorms through much of the
week.

2) Marginal risk for isolated severe thunderstorms and locally heavy
rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Warm with rounds of showers and thunderstorms
through much of the week.

Surface low pressure will move from the central Great Lakes this
morning to the Saint Lawrence Valley by early this evening. A period
of warm advection and moisture transport will cross the eastern
Great Lakes this morning ahead of the low, enhanced on the nose of a
40-50 knot low level jet in the warm sector of the passing low.
Isentropic upglide and convergence near the nose of the low level
jet will likely support an area of showers and scattered
thunderstorms moving northeast across the area this morning.

A second line of convection may develop along the weak cold front
trailing the low, which will cross the eastern Great Lakes from late
morning through late afternoon. Convergence from the passing weak
front may combine with convergence along the southern edge of
enhanced flow off Lake Erie from the Southern Tier into the Finger
Lakes and Central NY, where convection is most likely this
afternoon. A gusty southwest wind off the cold Lake Erie and Lake
Ontario waters will likely reduce the chance of afternoon storms on
the lake plains.

Most of the showers and scattered thunderstorms will end early this
evening with the exit of the weak cold front and loss of diurnal
instability. This will leave mainly dry conditions through the first
half of the night. Late tonight, a convectively augmented shortwave
will move out of lower Michigan and across southern Ontario,
approaching Western NY before daybreak with increasing chances of
showers and thunderstorms from west to east during the pre-dawn
hours. This cluster of thunderstorms, and the potential for
additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms, will continue
through Wednesday across the region.

Additional showers and sub-severe thunderstorms are likely to
continue crossing into WNY and over to the North Country through the
remainder of Wednesday night. A deeper, positively tilted mid-level
shortwave moving into the Great Lakes from the Midwest will then
cause the stalled boundary to briefly lift north of the region with
a drying trend south of Lake Ontario as temps remain warm. The
surface low attendant to the shortwave will then push a cold front
through the forecast area sometime between Thursday and Thursday
night with yet another round of showers and embedded thunderstorms.
Some mid to long range guidance suggests a secondary sfc wave
developing along the boundary which could slow its progression.
Uncertainty in this solution leads to PoPs >30% being maintained
through Friday, though temps should still cool several degrees
compared to the midweek timeframe.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Marginal risk for isolated severe thunderstorms and
locally heavy rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday.

Numerous rounds of showers and thunderstorms will cross the eastern
Great Lakes today through Wednesday, with a few of these rounds
potentially bringing a risk of isolated strong wind gusts and
locally heavy rainfall.

The first round of convection in the warm advection regime this
morning is not likely to become severe, with an initially stable
boundary layer keeping instability rooted above the surface and
keeping most of the stronger winds aloft. Thunderstorms will produce
brief heavy downpours today through tonight with PWAT values
reaching or exceeding 1.25", but strong flow and fast storm motions
will limit the flood risk unless training convection occurs.

A weak cold front will cross the eastern Great Lakes from late
morning through the afternoon today. Surface temperatures climbing
into the 70s and surface dewpoints rising into the mid to upper 50s
will support weak to moderate surface based instability by early
afternoon. Strong flow in the 2K to 10K foot layer with largely
unidirectional shear profiles will support the risk of isolated
strong wind gusts in any stronger storms. Thunderstorms are most
probable from late morning through the afternoon from the Southern
Tier into the Finger Lakes and Central NY along the southern edge of
enhanced flow over and northeast of the lakes. Stable lake shadows
will expand northeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in the
afternoon, reducing chances for convection over the lake plains.

Any convection that develops this afternoon will end by early
evening as the weak cold front exits and the boundary layer
stabilizes. A convectively augmented shortwave will move across
lower Michigan and southern Ontario overnight, approaching Western
NY towards daybreak Wednesday. Forcing and persistent convergence
along and east-west frontal zone may allow a cluster of showers and
thunderstorms to persist overnight, with these storms moving into
Western NY during the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday. A few of these
storms may also bring a risk of locally strong wind gusts,
particularly if bowing segments are able to persist through the
overnight hours.

Wednesday, a decaying MCS in the vicinity of the Finger Lakes or
North Country around daybreak will likely shuffle east and out of
the forecast area by mid-morning. In its wake, the eastern Great
Lakes will remain within the warm sector of a nearby stalled frontal
boundary, with a short break in the shower activity expected. This
should allow the environment to recover to some extent, especially
if a few breaks in the cloud cover emerge. Signals from the short to
mid-range guidance on convective evolution remain messy with the 18z
REFS advertising a 30-65% chance for SBCAPE values >1000J/kg south
of I-90 and west of the Finger Lakes, highest across southwestern
NY. Steepening lapse rates and strong 0-6km bulk shear values around
45kts overtop the stalled boundary may cause a few strong to severe
thunderstorms to develop as the next convective wave tracks into WNY
from southern Michigan in the afternoon and evening. At this
juncture the primary threat appears to be damaging wind gusts and
small to marginally severe hail, though given potentially strong
(>20kts) 0-1km shear profiles, cannot completely rule out an
isolated tornado. The severe risk appears generally lower north of
I-90 and in the North Country.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Areas of fog and low stratus will continue early this morning
east of Lake Ontario with IFR/LIFR conditions.

Surface low pressure will move from the central Great Lakes this
morning to the Saint Lawrence Valley by this evening. An area of
showers and a few thunderstorms will cross the eastern Great Lakes
from southwest to northeast this morning, with the greatest coverage
likely to be across the northern portion of the area. A few more
scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and
early evening with daytime heating, mainly from the Southern Tier to
the Finger Lakes, Central NY, and Tug Hill region. Any of the
showers and storms today will produce brief VSBY/CIG restrictions.
Southwest winds off the cold lake waters will reduce the chance of
afternoon and evening convection northeast of Lake Erie.

A variety of CIGS will continue today through tonight. MVFR/IFR CIGS
will occur at times over and downwind of the lakes with high
dewpoints over the cold water supporting a marine layer. Lower CIGS
will also be found in areas of organized showers and across higher
terrain at times.

A strong low level jet will remain in place today. This will
initially support some low level wind shear early this morning, then
gusty winds from mid morning through the afternoon. Expect gusts in
the 20-30 knot range in most areas, and up to 35 knots northeast of
Lake Erie including KBUF, KIAG, and KROC.

Outlook...

Wednesday through Thursday night...VFR/MVFR with some local IFR at
times. Numerous rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms.

Friday...VFR/MVFR with showers likely.

Saturday...Mainly VFR with a chance of showers later in the
afternoon.

&&

.MARINE...
Southwest winds will increase again today as a weak cold front
crosses the eastern Great Lakes. The cold lake waters will tend
to stabilize the boundary layer over the lakes, with stronger
winds focusing on land. The most likely areas to see a period of
Small Craft Advisory worthy winds today will be the Niagara
River and the western end of Lake Ontario.

Rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms will cross the
lower Great Lakes today through Thursday. A few storms may
produce locally higher winds and waves along with lightning
strikes.

&&

.BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NY...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this
         evening for LEZ020.
         Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM
         EDT this evening for LOZ030-042.

&&

DISCUSSION...Hitchcock/PP
AVIATION...Hitchcock
MARINE...Hitchcock
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 14, 2:23 AM EDT, 8 hours 4 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
223 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

NYZ001>008-010>014-019>021-085-150630-
Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson-Lewis-
Northern Erie-Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston-Ontario-Chautauqua-
Cattaraugus-Allegany-Southern Erie-
223 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western and north central New
York.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Several rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected
today through tonight. Some of these storms may produce gusty winds,
with a few isolated severe thunderstorms possible. The best chance of
a few severe thunderstorms will be late morning through late
afternoon, and again late tonight. There is a Marginal Risk (level 1
out of 5) with the primary risk being localized damaging wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Additional rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms will cross
the region Wednesday through Thursday. Some of these storms may
produce gusty winds, with a few isolated severe thunderstorms
possible. There is a Marginal Risk (level 1 out of 5) of severe
thunderstorms Wednesday, mainly across the Southern Tier.

.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-SLZ022-024-150630-
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-
223 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 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.

Several rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected
today through tonight. Some of these storms may produce gusty winds
and locally higher waves.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Additional rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected
Wednesday through Thursday. Some of these storms may produce gusty
winds and locally higher waves.

.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

Hitchcock

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 14, 3:50 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryBUF15 hr
Apr 14, 8:31 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF43 min
Apr 14, 8:44 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFGenesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne46 min
Apr 14, 9:40 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF50 min
Apr 14, 10:17 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF43 min
Apr 14, 11:14 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFJefferson, Lewis46 min
Apr 14, 2:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFLewis26 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New York, 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.