New York, 2000

Flash Flooding and Flooding in New York, September 23, 2000

September 23, 2000 · NWS BUF · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

A soaking rain fell over the entire region on the 23rd, but a narrow band of two to four inches fell just south of Buffalo due to enhancement off Lake Erie. Local amounts of four inches were recorded in Hamburg and Orchard Park.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$450,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 soaking rain fell over the entire region on the 23rd, but a narrow band of two to four inches fell just south of Buffalo due to enhancement off Lake Erie. Local amounts of four inches were recorded in Hamburg and Orchard Park. A State of Emergency was declared in Blasdell. Roads were washed out and basements flooded throughout the southtowns. The heavy rains caused three area creeks to overflow their banks. Cazenovia Creek at Ebenezer, with a flood stage of 10 feet, reached a stage of 12.79 feet. Buffalo Creek at Gardenville crested at 8.0 feet-- a foot above flood stage. Cayuga Creek at Lancaster, with a flood stage of 8 feet, peaked at 8.76 feet.

The radar

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

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Event by event

3 flood, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Wyoming

When
September 23, 9:30 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where
Wyoming County, Sheldon Center
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
42.702, -78.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Erie

When
September 23, 9:30 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
Where
Erie County, Blasdell
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Erie

When
September 23, 9:40 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Erie

When
September 23, 11:30 AM EST to 10:45 PM EST
Where
Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Erie

When
September 23, 1:20 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where
Erie forecast zone
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
42.758, -78.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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, September 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: 5158431, 5158432, 5158433, 5158434, 5158711.