New York, 1996

Flash Flood in New York, September 15, 1996

September 15, 1996 · NWS BUF · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Bands of heavy rain circulating around low pressure became enhanced by the relatively warm waters of Lake Erie. The activity focused in the northwest portion of the county with the cities of Kenmore, Tonawanda, and northwest Buffalo bearing the brunt of the heaviest downpours.

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
$400,000
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 BUF wrote it up.

Bands of heavy rain circulating around low pressure became enhanced by the relatively warm waters of Lake Erie. The activity focused in the northwest portion of the county with the cities of Kenmore, Tonawanda, and northwest Buffalo bearing the brunt of the heaviest downpours. Rainfall totals of 6" were reported from the Town of Tonawanda in a 36 hour period from 9PM on the 13th to 9AM on the 15th. Rain fell at over an inch per hour at times. Storm sewers and drains could not handle the runoff forcing the closure of over 30 streets and resulting in serious basement flooding in thousands of homes. Thousands of homes lost both their natural gas and their power.

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:01 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Erie

When
September 15, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Erie County, Tonawanda
Property damage
$400,000
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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, September 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5572793.