New York, 1996

Flood in New York, January 19 to 20, 1996

January 19 to 20, 1996 · NWS ALY · 1 event in 1 county or zone

An intense area of low pressure which was located over the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday morning January 19th produced unseasonably warm temperatures, high dewpoints and strong winds. This resulted in rapid melting of one to three feet of snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$4.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ALY wrote it up.

An intense area of low pressure which was located over the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday morning January 19th produced unseasonably warm temperatures, high dewpoints and strong winds. This resulted in rapid melting of one to three feet of snow. In addition to the rapid snowmelt one to three inches of rain fell as the system moved northeast along the coast. This resulted in widespead flooding across Montgomery County including the flooding of the Mohawk River and Schoharie Creek. Federal Disaster Assistance was made available by presidential declaration. Flooding was widespread along the Schoharie Creek in the Towns of Florida and Glen. In the Town of Florida eight families were evacuated. Mill Point Bridge which connects the Towns of Glen and Florida over the Schoharie Creek was heavily damaged. Route 5S bridge near the Village of Fort Hunter was also heavily damaged. Flooding along the Mohawk River forced evacuations of many residents along the riverfront. Route 5 from Fonda to Palatine was closed due to the flooding Mohawk River and route 334 was closed north of Fonda. In St. Johnsville the Zimmerman Creek flooded many homes and businesses. Ten homes were evacuated in St Johnsville.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Montgomery

When
January 19, 2:00 PM EST to January 20, 9:00 PM EST
Where
Montgomery forecast zone
Property damage
$4.0 million
Coordinates
42.902, -74.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, January 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5553418.