High Wind in New York, March 28, 1998

Name: High Wind in New York, March 28, 1998
Start: 1998-03-28T15:48
End: 1998-03-28T19:01
Location: New York

March 28, 1998 · NWS BUF · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

A fast moving squall line crossed the area during the afternoon hours. Winds, gusting over 70 mph, downed numerous trees and wires.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $380,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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.

A fast moving squall line crossed the area during the afternoon hours. Winds, gusting over 70 mph, downed numerous trees and wires. Power outages were reported throughout the area. In Alabama, Genesee county, a camping trailer was overturned by the squall. Minor structural damage (i.e. siding torn off and roof shingles blown away) was also reported.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Niagara

When: March 28, 3:48 PM EST
Where: Niagara forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 43.173, -78.691 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Erie

When: March 28, 3:58 PM EST
Where: Erie forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $40,000
Coordinates: 42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Genesee

When: March 28, 4:25 PM EST
Where: Genesee forecast zone
Property damage: $65,000
Coordinates: 43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wyoming

When: March 28, 4:27 PM EST
Where: Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Orleans

When: March 28, 4:35 PM EST
Where: Orleans forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 43.251, -78.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Monroe

When: March 28, 4:47 PM EST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $40,000
Coordinates: 43.165, -77.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Livingston

When: March 28, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Property damage: $35,000
Coordinates: 42.728, -77.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wayne

When: March 28, 5:20 PM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 43.066, -76.978 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Ontario

When: March 28, 5:30 PM EST
Where: Ontario forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 42.853, -77.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Cayuga

When: March 28, 6:01 PM EST
Where: Northern Cayuga forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.010, -76.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jefferson

When: March 28, 6:15 PM EST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 43.999, -76.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Oswego

When: March 28, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Oswego forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 43.464, -76.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lewis

When: March 28, 7:01 PM EST
Where: Lewis forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 43.785, -75.449 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New York in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in New York, March 1998

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: 5630883, 5630884, 5630885, 5630886, 5630887, 5630888, 5630889, 5630950, 5630951, 5630952, 5630953, 5630954, 5630955.