Flash Flood and Hail in New York, January 9, 1998

A fast moving squall line with embedded thunderstorms developed along a cold front as it crossed central New York during the midday hours. A thunderstorm cell became severe across northern Broome county and produced large hail. A swath of hail ranging from pea sized to dime sized was reported in an area from Johnson City northward to Choconut Center. A short time later, hail to one inch in diameter was observed by a skywarn spotter in Castle Creek. Hail even covered the ground for a time in this vicinity.

A line of thunderstorms that produced large hail over northern Broome county continued to intensify as it plowed eastward across Chenango county. Numerous reports of hail were received across the county as the squall line moved through. Hail to one inch in diameter fell in the towns of Preston and Greene in the southwestern portion of the county. Similarly sized hail was also observed by skywarn spotters and law enforcement officials further east in a corridor from Norwich up to Sherburne.

A line of severe thunderstorms continued to push rapidly eastward into Otsego county, maintaining its intensity. A skywarn spotter reported golf ball sized hail as the storm passed Exeter Center. Once the storms moved into the eastern half of the county, their intensity began to weaken.

Showers and locally strong to severe thunderstorms dumped as much as three-quarters of an inch to an inch of rain in a short period of time across Otsego county. Since soil conditions were already saturated, isolated flash flooding resulted. The Schevenus creek near Worcester overflowed its banks early that afternoon with water covering adjancent roadways. By early evening, the creek had receded back within its banks.