Flash Flood in New York, December 2, 1996

A strong and slow moving cold front brought heavy rains to much of central New York from the late afternoon of the 1st into the early morning hours of the 2nd. Generally, rainfall amounts of 1.5 to 3.5 inches were observed across the region. Heavy rainfall combined with already saturated soil conditions to produce widespread flash flooding in the Susquehanna region and Western Catskills. Streams and creeks first overflowed their banks in Tioga and eastern Chemung counties late in the evening of the 1st. Several road closures and bridge washouts were reported in these counties. As the band of heavy rain shifted eastward during the night, flash flooding began shortly after midnight in most of the Susquehanna region. Significant small stream flooding occurred in northern portions of Broome county and throughout Cortland county. Route 26 was closed for a time just north of Whitney Point in Broome County. In the pre-dawn hours of the 2nd, flooding problems started from Otsego county southward through the Catskills. Countywide stream and creek flooding hit Otsego county, with over a foot of water on roadways in the town of Hartwick. In the Catskills, major stream and roadway flooding developed in the towns of Franklin and Claryville in southern Delaware and northern Sullivan counties respectively. By midday on the 2nd, all area creeks and streams had receded back within their banks. Main stem river flooding began to surface within the Susquehanna basin just before sunrise on the 2nd. The Tioughnioga river near Cortland in Cortland county was the first to overflow its banks. Later that morning, minor lowland flooding occurred from Unadilla downstream to Waverly. Some flooding also occurred along the Chenango river from Sherburne to Chenango Forks. In all instances, flooding was insignificant with only a few roads immediately adjacent to the river taking on water. Flooding also occurred on the East Branch of the Delaware river on the Beaver Kill Creek at Cooks Falls and near Callicoon.Road closures and basement flooding were reported in these areas. By early in the morning on the 5th, all river points had fallen below flood stage.