Damaging Winds in New York, July 17, 1999

Several clusters of thunderstorms developed over central New York on this day in response to an upper level disturbance that moved out of the Ohio Valley during the late morning and afternoon hours. Some of these storms reached severe levels with one cluster downing powerlines near Ithaca College around 4:45 p.m. EDT. A little later, another round of thunderstorms moved through the same city and downed trees and additional wires in downtown sections of Ithaca shortly after 5 :30 p.m EDT. One particularly strong thunderstorm cell downed numerous trees and wires over central parts of Onondaga county and also disrupted a Blues Festival and the Fleet Arts and Crafts festival in downtown Syracuse. Strong winds destroyed tents and booths and sent fairgoers scattering about seeking shelter. Miraculously, no one was injured. Powerlines were also downed throughout the area as 13,000 residents were without electric power for several hours. A few more thunderstorms formed over Northeast Pennsylvania and subsequently entered the Western Catskills of New York around dusk. These storms tore into parts of Sullivan county and tore down trees in Jeffersonville. Approximately eight trees fell on a house, heavily damaging an art studio and it's contents.