New York, 2000

High Wind in New York, December 12, 2000

December 12, 2000 · NWS BUF · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

Deep low pressure over Ohio tracked northeast across the region. The strong pressure gradient on the back side of the low combined with rapid pressure rises resulted in very strong northwest winds across the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 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
$1.7 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
14

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.

Deep low pressure over Ohio tracked northeast across the region. The strong pressure gradient on the back side of the low combined with rapid pressure rises resulted in very strong northwest winds across the region. The damaging winds downed trees and line throughout the area. Specific reports of damage were received from Cuba, Olean, Jamestown, Buffalo, Amherst, Darien, Lyonsdale, Lima, Spencerport, North Tonawanda, Medina, Fulton and Newark. Schools were forced to close. The Red Cross opened several shelters throughout the area. Structural and property damage was also reported, specifically in Cassadaga, Stockton, Lily Dale, South Dayton, Buffalo, Phelps, Hall, Olean, Allegany, Wellsville, Geneva, Jamestown and Lakewood. Nearly a hundred thousand customers were without power across the region. Over 50 crews from the Ontario Hydro Power Company in Canada assisted in power restoration. Power outages lasted from several hours to nearly a day in some spots. Flights on the morning of the 12th were either delayed or cancelled at both the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Rochester Airport. Specific wind gusts recorded were: 66 mph at Buffalo; 63 mph at Cuba, Yorkshire and Dunkirk; 61 mph at Jamestown; 59 mph at Niagara Falls, and 58 mph at Olean.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Niagara

When
December 12, 2:47 AM EST
Where
Niagara forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
43.173, -78.691 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Chautauqua

When
December 12, 2:55 AM EST
Where
Chautauqua forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
42.303, -79.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Erie

When
December 12, 2:56 AM EST
Where
Erie forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Orleans

When
December 12, 3:15 AM EST
Where
Orleans forecast zone
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.251, -78.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Genesee

When
December 12, 5:30 AM EST
Where
Genesee forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.001, -78.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Monroe

When
December 12, 5:45 AM EST
Where
Monroe forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.165, -77.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wyoming

When
December 12, 5:45 AM EST
Where
Wyoming forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cattaraugus

When
December 12, 5:56 AM EST
Where
Cattaraugus forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$150,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
42.249, -78.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Livingston

When
December 12, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Livingston forecast zone
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
42.728, -77.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Allegany

When
December 12, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Allegany forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
42.257, -78.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Ontario

When
December 12, 6:15 AM EST
Where
Ontario forecast zone
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
UTILITY COMPANY
Coordinates
42.853, -77.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wayne

When
December 12, 6:20 AM EST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.066, -76.978 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Oswego

When
December 12, 6:45 AM EST
Where
Oswego forecast zone
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
43.464, -76.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lewis

When
December 12, 11:30 AM EST
Where
Lewis forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
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

More

Every storm in New York in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2000

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: 5168522, 5168920, 5168921, 5168922, 5168923, 5168924, 5168925, 5168926, 5168927, 5168928, 5168929, 5168930, 5168931, 5168932.