Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in New York, August 2, 2000

Slow-moving thunderstorms erupted within a very tropical airmass over southern Saratoga county during the afternoon of August 2. Storms not only moved slowly, but redeveloped over the same region and produced very heavy amounts of rainfall in a short period of time. 3.60 inches of rain was reported by an off-duty meteorologist in Clifton Park. Doppler radar estimated up to 6 inches falling in the vicinity. The axis of heaviest rain fell across Mechanicville, the town of Clifton Park and Half Moon. The result was flash flooding in these areas. Toller Road in Clifton Park was under 7 feet of water. Tallmadge Park was under water, forcing a concert scheduled to be played later that evening to be cancelled. The parking lot at the Clifton Country Mall, also in Clifton Park, was completely flooded with several feet of water. Flooding closed roads in Mechnicville and basements were flooded. A twenty-foot-wide section of rail bedding was washed away near U.S. Highway Route 4. In Halfmoon, Route 4 was closed due to flooding. A portion of Pryun Hill Road, which leads to Mechanicville High School, was washed away and the black-top buckled. The water rushed across the road so hard and fast, that trees even became uprooted. Water on the Adirondack Northway (Interstate-87) closed up to two out of the three lanes in both directions, snarling traffic in the town of Clifton Park. The heavy rainfall caused about 500 customers to be without power for around an hour. Nassua Lake overflowed in Rensselaer county, causing rapid flooding in a nearby basement. This flooding led to the explosion of an oil burner, resulting in an oil spill. Lightning from a thunderstorm struck a tree on the SUNY-Albany Campus. Five University at Albany police officers were close enough to feel the effects of the indirect strike. All were very mildly shocked but escaped serious injuries.