New York, 2001

Lightning Strikes in New York, June 20, 2001

June 20, 2001 · NWS ALY · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Lightning from a thunderstorm struck two seperate homes in the village of Athens, Green County during the evening of June 20. These strikes were within 20 minutes each of other.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
$150,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 ALY wrote it up.

Lightning from a thunderstorm struck two seperate homes in the village of Athens, Green County during the evening of June 20. These strikes were within 20 minutes each of other. The first lightning strike was to blame for a fire that destroyed the top floor of a home. The second strike spread spread fire through an entire home.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Albany, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 20, 1:45 PM EST, 3 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 20, 1:45 PM EST, 3 hours 34 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
245 PM EDT WED JUN 20 2001

DISC...MAIN WEATHER PROBLEM FOR ERN NY AND WERN NEW ENGLAND LATE
THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY WILL BE STRONG CONVECTION FIRING AHEAD
OF IMPULSES OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING ALONG A COLD FRONT THAT WILL
BECOME QUASI-STATIONARY ACROSS THE NORTHEAST FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

.LARGE SCALE OVERVIEW...
12Z RAOB ANALYSIS REVEALS A PERSISTENT RIDGE AT 500 HPA OVER
THE EASTERN PACIFIC AND WEST COAST OF THE LOWER 48. A MID-LEVEL
TROUGH CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND DIG EAST OF THE ROCKIES ACROSS THE
NORTHERN PLAINS (AS FAR SOUTH AS KTOP AND KIND) AND THE UPPER
MIDWEST EASTWARD TO THE NORTHEAST. AN INTENSE UPPER LEVEL JET AT 250
HPA EXCEEDING 100 KNOTS...WILL CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE E/NE ACROSS
SOUTHERN MN AND WI...AS WELL AS NERN MI THIS AFTERNOON. DOWNSTREAM
OF KALY IN THE NORTHEAST A WEAK RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WILL
BLOCK THE CURRENT COLD FRONT FROM SWEEPING ACROSS NY AND NEW ENGLAND
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

.SHORT TERM...
THE LAST FULL DAY OF SPRING DEFINITELY HAS A CHANCE OF GENERATING
SOME SEVERE WEATHER THIS PM AND EARLY THIS EVENING ACROSS KALYS CWA.
AS OF 1630Z...IMPRESSIVE CELLS ARE STARTING TO FIRE IN CENTRAL PA.
ANTICIPATE THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT AND A SHORTWAVE MOVING
THROUGH WERN PA.

A SURFACE COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY SITUATED FROM KMPV TO KGFL TO KIPT
AT 1700Z. THIS FRONT WILL SLOW DOWN AND STALL ACROSS THE NORTHEAST
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO TOMORROW. MAJORITY OF THE ACTIVITY HAS
BEEN BEHIND THE SFC FRONT. NOT A CLASSIC SPRING/SUMMER
KATAFRONT...MORE OR LESS ANAFRONTAL. CAPES FROM KALY SOUTH AND EAST
ARE RANGING FROM 1500 J/KG TO 2500 J/KG. LIS ARE FROM 0 TO -5 AND
DEWPOINTS FROM THE CAPITAL DISTRICT SOUTH AND EAST ARE IN THE MID TO
UPPER 60S. A THETA E RIDGE IS IN PLACE OVER THE HUDSON VALLEY
ACCORDING TO THE ETA MODEL WITH VALUES OF 340 TO 345K. THIS
CONTRASTS VALUES IN THE LOW 320S IN WERN NY. LOW LEVEL WIND FIELDS
NOT TOO IMPRESSIVE...THOUGH SOUTHEASTERN NY IS SITTING IN THE
ANTICYLONIC ENTRANCE REGION OF THE MID-LEVEL JET...CONDUCIVE TO
CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. LIFT...MOISTURE...INSTABILITY IN PLACE SO
SCATTERED SEVERE TSTMS ARE POSSIBLE. SPC AGREES ISSUING A SVR TSTM
WATCH AS I TYPE AT 1650Z. SVR TSTM BOX COVERS MOHAWK VALLEY
(INCLUDING KALY)SOUTH TO THE VT/MA/CT BORDER EXCLUDING NYCS CWA
TILL 22Z.

THE FRONT WILL MAKE IT AS FAR SOUTH AS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND  AND NYC
OVERNIGHT. ETA/NGM/AVN ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THU...EXCEPT THE AVN
DRAGS THE FRONT THE FURTHEST SOUTH AND PRODUCES POPS IN THE 30S
ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA. ALL AND ALL...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
A GOOD BET TOMORROW FROM KALY SOUTH AND EAST. WILL GO SCATTERED
SHWRS/TSTMS NORTH AND WEST. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO
FORM OVER THE MIDWEST IL/IN BORDER AND TRACK THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY
THURSDAY NIGHT. COLD FRONT WILL COME BACK AS WARM FRONT WITH THE LOW
THU NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. ON AND OFF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE. WILL GO WITH LIKELY POPS FOR THOSE PERIODS. WILL LEAN
TOWARD THE MAV NUMBERS FOR ALL TEMPERATURES.

.EXTENDED...
THE MRF HINTS AT A RIDGE BUILDING IN NICELY OVER THE NORTHEAST FOR
THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEKEND. IT APPEARS WE GO TO MORE OF A DRYING
TREND AFTER  2-3 DAYS OF UNSETTLED WEATHER. TEMPS WILL REBOUND TO
THE MID TO UPPERS 80S FOR MON THROUGH WED. HOWEVER THE 12Z AVN HANGS
ONTO TO THE UPPER LEVEL LOW AND CUTS IT OFF OVER OH/PA SUNDAY INTO
MONDAY. WILL STILL MENTION THE CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM
SUNDAY ACROSS THE CWA SUNDAY. OVERALL...AT THIS POINT IN TIME
WILL LEAVE MONDAY DRY.

ALY...
SVR TSTM WATCH TILL 22Z
NYC001-021-035-039-057-083-091-093-095-

SVR TSTM WATCH TILL 01Z
VTC003-025-027-

WASULA

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 20, 3:31 PM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
431 PM EDT WED JUN 20 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0251 PM    GREENVILLE                NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0308 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0325 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0335 PM    STOCKPORT                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1.5 INCH TO 2 INCH SIZE
                                          HAIL

0345 PM    CAIRO                     NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0346 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL

0355 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0412 PM    CLAVERACK                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0418 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0426 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         7/8 TO 1 INCH HAIL

0430 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL

NNNN
Local storm report, Jun 20, 3:56 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
456 PM EDT WED JUN 20 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0251 PM    GREENVILLE                NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0308 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0325 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0335 PM    STOCKPORT                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1.5 INCH TO 2 INCH SIZE
                                          HAIL

0345 PM    CAIRO                     NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0346 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL

0355 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0412 PM    CLAVERACK                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0418 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0426 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         7/8 TO 1 INCH HAIL

0430 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL

0456 PM    LEE                       MA   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   BERKSHIRE                      DIME SIZE HAIL

NNNN
KOLECI
Local storm report, Jun 20, 4:15 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
515 PM EDT WED JUN 20 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0251 PM    GREENVILLE                NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0308 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0325 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0335 PM    STOCKPORT                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1.5 INCH TO 2 INCH SIZE
                                          HAIL

0345 PM    CAIRO                     NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0346 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL

0355 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0412 PM    CLAVERACK                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0418 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0426 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         7/8 TO 1 INCH HAIL

0426 PM    AUSTERLITZ                NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1 3/8 INCH HAIL

0430 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL

0456 PM    LEE                       MA   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   BERKSHIRE                      DIME SIZE HAIL

NNNN
KOLECI
Local storm report, Jun 20, 4:59 PM EST, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
559 PM EDT WED JUN 20 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0251 PM    GREENVILLE                NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0308 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0325 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0335 PM    STOCKPORT                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1.5 INCH TO 2 INCH SIZE
                                          HAIL

0345 PM    CAIRO                     NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0346 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL

0355 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0412 PM    CLAVERACK                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0418 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0426 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         7/8 TO 1 INCH HAIL

0426 PM    AUSTERLITZ                NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1 3/8 INCH HAIL

0430 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL

0456 PM    LEE                       MA   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   BERKSHIRE                      DIME SIZE HAIL

0530 PM    GRAFTON                   NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   RENSSELAER                     NICKEL SIZE HAIL

NNNN
KOLECI
Local storm report, Jun 20, 5:07 PM EST, 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
607 PM EDT WED JUN 20 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0251 PM    GREENVILLE                NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0308 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0315 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   2.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         BASEBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          DAMAGE TO CARS AT DEALERSHIP

0325 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0335 PM    STOCKPORT                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1.5 INCH TO 2 INCH SIZE
                                          HAIL

0345 PM    CAIRO                     NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0346 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL

0355 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0412 PM    CLAVERACK                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0418 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0426 PM    AUSTERLITZ                NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1 3/8 INCH HAIL

0426 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         7/8 TO 1 INCH HAIL

0430 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL

0456 PM    LEE                       MA   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   BERKSHIRE                      DIME SIZE HAIL
 
0530 PM    GRAFTON                   NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   RENSSELAER                     NICKEL SIZE HAIL

NNNN
KOLECI
Local storm report, Jun 20, 5:19 PM EST, 0 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
619 PM EDT WED JUN 20 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0251 PM    GREENVILLE                NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0308 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0315 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   2.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         BASEBALL SIZE HAIL

0325 PM    COXSACKIE                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0335 PM    STOCKPORT                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1.5 INCH TO 2 INCH SIZE
                                          HAIL

0345 PM    CAIRO                     NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0346 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL

0355 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0412 PM    CLAVERACK                 NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0418 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0426 PM    AUSTERLITZ                NY   1.5 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   COLUMBIA                       1 3/8 INCH HAIL

0426 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         7/8 TO 1 INCH HAIL

0430 PM    CATSKILL                  NY   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   GREENE                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL

0440 PM    HOUSATONIC                MA   2 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   BERKSHIRE                      HEN EGG SIZE HAIL

0456 PM    LEE                       MA   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   BERKSHIRE                      DIME SIZE HAIL

0510 PM    ATHENS                    VT   1 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   WINDHAM                        QUARTER SIZE HAIL

0515 PM    PHOENICIA                 NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   ULSTER                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0515 PM    PHOENICIA                 NY   .75 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   ULSTER                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0530 PM    GRAFTON                   NYP   .88 INCH HAIL
06/20/01   RENSSELAER                     NICKEL SIZE HAIL

NNNN
KOLECI

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Greene

When
June 20, 5:19 PM EST
Where
Greene County, Athens
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.277, -74.123 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Greene

When
June 20, 5:38 PM EST
Where
Greene County, Athens
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.277, -74.123 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, June 2001

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: 5252517, 5252518.