Hail and Damaging Winds in New York, July 1, 2001

A powerful cold front, combined with a strong upper level disturbance to produce widespread thunderstorms across eastern New York during the afternoon of July 1. Some of these storms became locally strong to severe. In Albany County, thunderstorm winds blew down trees in Latham, Guilderland Center and Colonie. In addition, dime size hail was reported in Guilderland Center. In Schenectady County, wind damage, including downed trees, was noted in the towns of Rotterdam and Glenville. Two trees fell onto seperate homes also in Glenville. In Rensselaer County, dime to nickle size hail was reported in Speigletown, while quarter size hail fell at both West Sand Lake and Poestenkill. Averill Park reported both one and two inch diameter hail. Thunderstorm winds brought trees down at Grafton State Park. In Ulster County, microbrust damage was surveyed by National Weather Service personnel on the east side of Gardiner. Winds were estimated to be around 100 mph and the damage was generally contained within a semi-circle to the west of Ireland Corners. Large trees were snapped or taken down in an area bounded by Route 44-55, Route 208 and Marabac Road. One tree fell on an automobile, crushing it. Meanwhile to the south of the Route 208 intersection, another tree fell onto the roof of a house. At the same location, a chimney toppled onto another vehicle. At the same time, thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees in the city of New Paltz. Trees were blown down in the town of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County. Also, in the same county, quarter to golfball-size hail fell in the town of Beacon. In Fulton County, a large tree fell onto some headstones in a cemetary in Johnstown. Spotty damage, including downed trees, was also noted in Montgomery and Saratoga Counties. Lightning from the storms struck three houses, two of which were in Dutchess County and all of them caught fire. Houses were struck in Poughkeepsie, and Hyde Park. Another house was struck in Highland, Ulster County. No injuries were reported. The house in Hyde Park was uninhabitable. The house in Poughkeepsie sustained damage to the roof and attic. In Highland, the house struck by lightning had limited damage. An estimated 7,500 customers were temporarily without power in the Capital District, Mohawk Valley, and the Lake George Saratoga region. An additional 3,500 customers were out of power in the Mid Hudson Valley. Lightning struck a person in the town of Colonie, but there were no injuries reported to the National Weather Service.