Alert archive / New York / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 34, NWS Buffalo, NY
NWS Buffalo, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 13, 2026, 4:49 PM EDT for Jefferson County, Lewis County, Oswego County, New York. It was in force for 71 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
- May 13, 2026, 4:49 PM EDT (20:49 UTC)
- Expired
- May 13, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 71 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), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:51 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
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 201 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1079 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 119 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 163 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
486
WUUS51 KBUF 132049
SVRBUF
NYC045-049-075-132200-
/O.NEW.KBUF.SV.W.0034.260513T2049Z-260513T2200Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
449 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Jefferson County in central New York...
Lewis County in central New York...
Oswego County in central New York...
* Until 600 PM EDT.
* At 448 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Stony Point to near Battle Island State Park to near
Camillus, moving northeast at 45 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, Oswego, Fulton, Fort Drum, Sandy Island Beach State
Park, Stony Point, Carthage, Lowville, Pulaski, and West Carthage.
This includes Interstate 81 between exits 32 and 49.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4342 7553 4347 7575 4352 7576 4347 7576
4348 7581 4315 7588 4327 7620 4322 7619
4325 7660 4344 7665 4356 7642 4358 7626
4387 7635 4388 7648 4396 7634 4400 7635
4433 7569 4411 7519 4410 7517 4361 7511
TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 232DEG 44KT 4384 7629 4340 7633 4306 7636
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
SGK2 follow-up statements
013
WWUS51 KBUF 132131
SVSBUF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
531 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
NYC045-049-075-132200-
/O.CON.KBUF.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-260513T2200Z/
Jefferson NY-Lewis NY-Oswego NY-
531 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT
FOR JEFFERSON...LEWIS AND NORTHEASTERN OSWEGO COUNTIES...
At 531 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Dexter to 6 miles south of Adams to 9 miles
southeast of Pulaski, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Watertown, Sandy Island Beach State Park, Fort Drum, Carthage,
Lowville, Pulaski, West Carthage, Adams, Dexter, and Redfield.
This includes Interstate 81 between exits 35 and 49.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4342 7553 4347 7575 4352 7576 4347 7576
4348 7581 4341 7585 4338 7596 4360 7626
4405 7626 4433 7569 4410 7517 4361 7511
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 218DEG 35KT 4402 7611 4372 7605 4347 7600
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
SGK994
WWUS51 KBUF 132159
SVSBUF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
559 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
NYC045-049-075-132209-
/O.EXP.KBUF.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-260513T2200Z/
Jefferson NY-Lewis NY-Oswego NY-
559 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR JEFFERSON...LEWIS AND
NORTHEASTERN OSWEGO COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM EDT...
The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe
limits, and no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, heavy
rain is still possible with these thunderstorms.
&&
LAT...LON 4342 7553 4347 7575 4352 7576 4347 7576
4348 7581 4341 7585 4338 7596 4360 7626
4405 7626 4433 7569 4410 7517 4361 7511
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 232DEG 44KT 4420 7578 4390 7572 4365 7568
$$
ThomasWhat 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 May 13, 2:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Cool weather and periods of showers will continue today and tonight, with a line of showers and thunderstorms forming along and just ahead of a cold front as it crosses the region this afternoon. 2) Unsettled and very cool weather will continue Thursday through Thursday night. 3) A notable warming trend will start Friday, then gain momentum over the weekend with summer-like heat by early next week.
Area forecast discussion, May 13, 2:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
258 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A few stronger storms may produce gusty winds this afternoon
from the interior Southern Tier to the Finger Lakes and southern
Tug Hill regions.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Cool weather and periods of showers will continue today and
tonight, with a line of showers and thunderstorms forming along
and just ahead of a cold front as it crosses the region this
afternoon.
2) Unsettled and very cool weather will continue Thursday through
Thursday night.
3) A notable warming trend will start Friday, then gain momentum
over the weekend with summer-like heat by early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Cool weather and periods of showers will continue
today and tonight, with a line of showers and thunderstorms forming
along and just ahead of a cold front as it crosses the region this
afternoon.
Deepening mid and upper level trough will continue to dig from the
central Great Lakes into the lower Great Lakes region today into
tonight. In the process, the mid level circulation will close off as
the system becomes vertically stacked. This will act to slow the
systems' progression as it drifts slowly southeastward, eventually
right over NYS later tonight. The associated surface low will drift
slowly east, just to the north of Lake Ontario today, then southward
across NYS later tonight.
A line of strong showers and thunderstorms will continue to move
eastward through WNY this afternoon ahead of a surface cold front. A
few of these storms could be severe with damaging wind gusts the
main threat. Otherwise, expect a west to east drying trend in the
wake of the cold front through the afternoon into this evening for
much of the area. However, the cold front is expected to stall out
just east of the area tonight, keeping the potential for a few
shower going east of Lake Ontario through much of the overnight.
Meanwhile, as the mid level and associated surface low slowly pivot
southeast across NYS, cool moist W to NW flow on the back side of
the system will combine with some limited lake enhancement to bring
chances for showers back in across far western NY late tonight,
especially across favored upslope areas.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Unsettled and very cool weather will continue
Thursday through Thursday night.
A mid level closed low will gradually move southeast across NY/PA on
Thursday. The associated surface low just north of Lake Ontario in
the morning will dissipate, giving way to secondary coastal
cyclogenesis near the New York Bight by Thursday afternoon. The
conveyor of deep moisture with this system will be well east of the
area over eastern NY and New England Thursday, leaving more shallow
wrap around moisture over the eastern Great Lakes. Cool air aloft,
steepening lapse rates, and increasing northwest upslope flow will
support a few showers at times, with the best coverage likely found
across the western Southern Tier and Lewis County.
A few showers will continue tomorrow night into early Friday
morning, with the best coverage east of Lake Ontario in closer
proximity to Atlantic moisture advecting westward around the
northern periphery of the vertically stacked low off the southern
New England coast. Additional rainfall amounts will be light. Rain
chances then mostly end by daybreak Friday as drier high pressure
ridges in from the southwest.
Well below normal temperatures are expected tomorrow, with highs
only in the low to mid 50s for lower elevations and upper 40s for
higher terrain, close to 15 degrees below average. Lows Thursday
night will drop back into the low to mid 40s areawide.
KEY MESSAGE 3...A notable warming trend will start Friday, then gain
momentum over the weekend with summer-like heat by early next week.
The very cool temperatures Thursday will give way to the start of a
warming trend by Friday as the mid level low moves away, with some
sunshine and weak warm advection beginning. Highs will recover into
the 60s and close to average by Friday afternoon.
A notable pattern change will begin across the CONUS this weekend
and mature early next week as a trough digs into the Rockies,
forcing a downstream ridge to build eastward across the central and
eastern CONUS. Persistent warm advection will bring an extended
period of above average warmth starting Saturday and lasting through
at least Tuesday. Highs over the weekend will be in the 70s, with
80s for Monday and Tuesday away from lake influences. Some of the
normally warmer locations may reach the upper 80s to lower 90s
Monday and Tuesday.
In addition to the building warmth, it will be relatively dry
through the period with just a low chance of a few spotty showers
from Saturday through Monday from passing weak shortwaves. A better
chance of showers and thunderstorms may arrive by late Tuesday or
Tuesday night as a cold front moves through the Great Lakes.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Some showers and thunderstorms will continue across the Buffalo
forecast area ahead of a passing cold front. Thunderstorms should
miss most of the terminals, except KROC early on. Mainly VFR
conditions found across the area early will lower to MVFR CIGs this
evening as a moist cyclonic flow develops over the region with low
pressure settling over the area. Winds out of the south to southwest
will veer to the west through the late afternoon and into the
evening behind a passing cold front.
Flight categories (CIGs) will continue to lower to the IFR/MVFR
range tonight with the cool cyclonic flow continuing. The lowest
CIGs are expected for the higher terrain of the Tug Hill & Western
Southern Tier where some LIFR CIGs are possible after Midnight.
Winds will weaken across the area, remaining mainly out of the west,
except for eastern portions of the area where more variability will
be possible with a sfc low passing just to the north. Behind the
earlier more organized showers/storms, only a few scattered showers
are expected overnight.
Thursday, after some morning improvement, flight CIGs will remain on
the lower side for most of the day with moist cyclonic flow
continuing. CIGs in the lower end MVFR to upper IFR range is
expected for most of the terminals, with the lower CIGs expected for
areas of higher terrain south of Lake Ontario. A few showers will be
possible at times, but should be limited in coverage at any given
time.
Outlook...
Thursday night...Areas of IFR/MVFR with showers likely at times.
Friday...A chance of showers, mainly east of Lake Ontario. Areas of
MVFR CIGS early, improving to VFR.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday...Mainly VFR. Slight chance of showers.
&&
.MARINE...
Winds associated with a passing cold front are expected to continue
to bring low end Small Craft Advisory level winds to the area
through the afternoon and into the evening. Earlier winds out of the
south and southwest will veer to the west and northwest at times as
a sfc low associated with the passing front crosses just north of
Lake Ontario.
Winds are expected to weaken to below SCA levels later this
evening and into the overnight as the passing sfc low and
associated pressure gradient weakens. Winds are expected to
remain below advisory levels through the weekend.
&&
.BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NY...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for LEZ040-
041.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for
LOZ045.
Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM EDT Thursday for LOZ042.
Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for
LOZ043-044.
&&
DISCUSSION...SGK
AVIATION...SW
MARINE...SWHazardous weather outlook, May 13, 2:18 PM EDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Buffalo NY 218 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026 NYZ004>006-013-014-020-021-141830- Wayne-Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Livingston-Ontario-Cattaraugus-Allegany- 218 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north central New York. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Showers and thunderstorms ahead of a cold front will continue as it pushes east across the region this afternoon. A few storms will have the potential to produce isolated strong to possibly severe wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Hazardous weather is not 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 NYZ001>003-007-008-010>012-019-085-141830- Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Jefferson-Lewis-Northern Erie-Genesee-Wyoming- Chautauqua-Southern Erie- 218 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north central New York. .DAY ONE...This afternoon 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-SLZ022-024-141830- 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- 218 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the New York waters of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Saint Lawrence River. .DAY ONE...This afternoon 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 13, 4:03 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
403 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0356 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NNW Geneva 42.89N 76.99W
05/13/2026 Ontario NY 911 Call Center
Tree down on wires on Carter Road in Geneva.
&&Local storm report, May 13, 4:41 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
441 PM EDT Wed May 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0407 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 S Clyde 43.06N 76.87W
05/13/2026 Wayne NY 911 Call Center
Tree and wires down on Route 414.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Buffalo, NY issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 1:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BUF | Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua | 58 min |
| May 13, 2:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BUF | Allegany, Cattaraugus, Livingston, Wyoming | 64 min |
| May 13, 2:43 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BUF | Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne | 62 min |
| May 13, 2:52 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BUF | 38 min | |
| May 13, 3:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BUF | Monroe, Ontario, Wayne | 56 min |
| May 13, 3:27 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BUF | 93 min | |
| May 13, 4:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BUF | Cayuga, Oswego, Wayne | 56 min |
| May 13, 4:54 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BUF | 36 min | |
| May 13, 5:07 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BUF | Jefferson, Oswego | 38 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.