New York, 2006

Damaging Winds and High Wind in New York, December 1, 2006

December 1, 2006 · NWS ALY · 21 events in 17 counties and zones

A low pressure system developed along the trailing end of a cold front over the lower Mississippi Valley on Thursday, November 30th, before moving northeast and intensifying rapidly. |A strong cold front trailing from this low swept across eastern New York late Friday afternoon into the evening hours, preceded and accompanied by several lines of severe thunderstorms.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
1
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
21

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.

A low pressure system developed along the trailing end of a cold front over the lower Mississippi Valley on Thursday, November 30th, before moving northeast and intensifying rapidly. The low reached the eastern Great Lakes by Friday morning, and then moved across northern New York State by Friday evening.|A strong cold front trailing from this low swept across eastern New York late Friday afternoon into the evening hours, preceded and accompanied by several lines of severe thunderstorms.

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 Dec 1, 2:50 PM EST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 1, 2:50 PM EST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
250 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
STRONG COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRONG SURFACE LOW THAT WILL
MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN NEW YORK THIS EVENING WILL BRING A ROUND OF
CONVECTION AND STRONG WINDS TO THE REGION THIS EVENING. LOW LEVEL
COLD AIR ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA WILL LIKELY
BE SCOURED OUT FOR A TIME THIS EVENING BEFORE TEMPS BEGIN FALLING
AGAIN LATER ON. 18Z SOUNDING SHOWED VERY STRONG WINDS ABOVE THE
SURFACE (40-70 KTS BETWEEN 850 AND 700 MB)...WITH THESE WINDS LIKELY
TO GET STRONGER SINCE THE MID LEVEL JET HAD NOT YET REACHED KALB AS
OF 18Z.

HAVE KEPT THE HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON ON SATURDAY...
BUT HAVE REDUCED THE WIND GUSTS IN THE GRID FORECASTS TO BELOW HIGH
WIND WARNING CRITERIA LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING SINCE THE
GRADIENT DOES NOT APPEAR TO SUPPORT WIND GUSTS OVER 58 MPH.
HOWEVER...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS NOT HERE YET...DID NOT WISH TO
CHANGE THE TIMING OF THE HIGH WIND WARNING OR CUT BACK TO A WIND
ADVISORY FOR LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING.

AFTER TONIGHT LAKE EFFECT WILL BE THE MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM. AT THIS
POINT IS APPEARS LAKE EFFECT SNOWS WILL BE CONFINED TO THE WESTERN
ADIRONDACKS AND POSSIBLY AS FAR SOUTH AS THE NORTHERN END OF THE
MOHAWK VALLEY. DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SIGNIFICANT EVENT FOR OUR
FORECAST AREA WITH NOTHING MORE THAN 2-3 INCHES FORECAST IN ANY ONE
12 HOUR PERIOD.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
WRF MODEL TRIES TO BRING SNOW ASSOCIATED WITH AN OFFSHORE LOW INTO
THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY...WHILE THE GFS KEEPS THE STEADY SNOW WELL OUT TO SEA. WRF
HAS A HISTORY OF DEVELOPING LOWS TOO STRONGLY AND TRACKING THEM TOO
FAR NORTH AND WEST...SO WILL KEEP FORECAST SIMILAR TO THE GFS. THAT
STILL RESULTS IN A CHANCE OF SNOW SINCE A UPPER LEVEL TROF AND WEAK
SURFACE REFLECTION IS STILL FORECAST TO CROSS THE REGION SUNDAY
NIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY.

AFTER THAT...LAKE EFFECT AND A WEAK CLIPPER TYPE SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE
SLIGHT CHANCE OR LOW CHANCE POPS IN MOST AREAS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

GENERALLY DRY THEREAFTER AS A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM BUILDS INTO
THE REGION.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
A VERY COMPLEX WEATHER SITUATION IS OCCURRING OVER THE ERN NY TAF
SITES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT IN THE LATE MORNING DIPPED
SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY WITH SHALLOW COLD AIR IN
THE LOWER 1-1.5 KFT MAKING ITS WAY SOUTH TO BETWEEN KALB AND KPOU.
THE WINDS HAVE SHIFTED NORTHERLY AT KGFL AND KALB AT ABOUT 10 KTS.
THE WINDS IN THE KPOU VICINITY CONTINUE TO BE FROM THE SOUTH AT 5-12
KTS. WE ARE EXPECTING THIS BOUNDARY TO MOVE BACK TO THE NORTH OF ALY
AROUND 22Z...AS A WARM FRONT. THE WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM THE S/SW
AT 15-20 KTS AHEAD OF A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT WILL PUSH
THE ARCTIC FRONT AND A POSSIBLE SQUALL LINE /OR MULTIPLE MINI
CONVECTIVE LINES/...FROM KALB-KPOU. THE AIR MAYBE STABLE ENOUGH TO
PREVENT ANY CONVECTION FROM KGFL NORTH AHEAD OF THE FRONT. WE ADDED
A VCTS TO KALB AROUND 22Z AND A TEMPO FOR A +TSRA FOR KPOU 21-24Z.
THE CONDITIONS WILL HOVER AT MVFR/IFR LEVELS FOR ALL THREE SITES IN
ANY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS. WIND GUSTS OF 35-45 KTS MAY OCCUR WITH
THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. THERE WILL ALSO BE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR BELOW 2
KFT AHEAD AND ALONG THE FRONTAL PASSAGE AT KPOU 18Z-00Z...AND WITH
THE FRONTAL PASSAGE 22Z-01Z AT KALB AND KGFL.

ONCE THE FRONT PASSES ERN NY BY AROUND 01Z...THE WINDS WILL BE FROM
THE W/SW AT 15-25KTS WITH GUSTS TO CLOSE TO 40KTS IN THE OVERNIGHT.
THE CIGS WILL RISE TO VFR LEVELS THEREAFTER...AND WILL CONTINUE TO
18Z SAT.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
UNSEASONABLY WARM AND MOIST AIR CONTINUES TO POUR INTO THE REGION
AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WHICH WAS PASSING THROUGH WESTERN NEW YORK
THIS AFERNOON. FRONT SHOULD SWEEP THROUGH THE AREA IN THE LATE AFTER
NOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS WITH A QUICK INCH TO INCH AND A HALF
OF PRECIP. ONE HALF TO ONE INCH OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN OVER
THE REGION NORTH OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY. THE RAIN WILL RESULT IN
SHARP RISES ON THE RIVERS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. AT THE MOMENT
NONE ARE FORECAST TO GO OVER FLOOD. THE GREAT SACANDAGA LAKE...
LAKE DELTA...AND ASHOKAN RESERVOIR ARE NEARLY FULL. HINCKLEY
RESERVOIR HAS BEEN DRAWN DOWN SEVERAL FEET AND SCHOHARIE RESERVOIR
IS DOWN ABOUT FIVE FEET FROM THE NOTCH. WHILE OUR FAR NORTHERN
ZONES WILL DROP BELOW FREEZING TONIGHT MOST OF THE AREA SHOULD
REMAIN IN THE MID 30S OVERNIGHT AND WARM INTO THE MID 40S ON
SATURDAY BEFORE DROPPING BELOW FREEZING SATURDAY NIGHT. NO RAIN
IS FORECAST THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS THE SOUTHERN ZONES WILL
MOSTLY BE DRY WITH FLURRIES AND SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE NORTHERN
ZONES.

&&

.ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST SATURDAY FOR CTZ001-013.

MA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST SATURDAY FOR MAZ001-025.

NY...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST SATURDAY FOR NYZ032-033-
     038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-082>084.

     FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR NYZ032-033-038-039-
     041>043-082>084.

VT...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST SATURDAY FOR VTZ013>015.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 1, 3:36 PM EST, 48 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
336 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006

CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ040-047>054-058>061-063>066-VTZ013>015-
021200-
NORTHERN LITCHFIELD-SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD-NORTHERN BERKSHIRE-
SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE-MONTGOMERY-SCHOHARIE-WESTERN SCHENECTADY-
EASTERN SCHENECTADY-SOUTHERN SARATOGA-WESTERN ALBANY-
EASTERN ALBANY-WESTERN RENSSELAER-EASTERN RENSSELAER-
WESTERN GREENE-EASTERN GREENE-WESTERN COLUMBIA-EASTERN COLUMBIA-
WESTERN ULSTER-EASTERN ULSTER-WESTERN DUTCHESS-EASTERN DUTCHESS-
BENNINGTON-WESTERN WINDHAM-EASTERN WINDHAM-
336 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK
EXCLUDING THE WESTERN MOHAWK VALLEY...SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS AND
LAKE GEORGE SARATOGA REGION...AND SOUTHERN VERMONT.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 876 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM.

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY THROUGH NOON
SATURDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING STATEMENT FOR
DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON SATURDAY. PLEASE
REFER TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING STATEMENT FOR DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE NOW ACTIVATED. SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO SEND ALL
REPORTS OF DAMAGING WINDS...MEASURED WIND GUSTS OVER 40
MPH...BANKFULL OR NEAR BANKFULL STREAMS AND RIVERS...AND RAINFALL
MEASUREMENTS OF AN INCH OR MORE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
SPOTTERS ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO REPORT IF THEY OBSERVE LIGHTNING OR
HEAR THUNDER.

NYZ032-033-038-039-041>043-082>084-021200-
NORTHERN HERKIMER-HAMILTON-SOUTHERN HERKIMER-SOUTHERN FULTON-
NORTHERN SARATOGA-NORTHERN WARREN-NORTHERN WASHINGTON-
NORTHERN FULTON-SOUTHEAST WARREN-SOUTHERN WASHINGTON-
336 PM EST FRI DEC 1 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN MOHAWK
VALLEY...SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS AND LAKE GEORGE SARATOGA REGION IN
EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 876 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM.

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY THROUGH NOON
SATURDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING STATEMENT FOR
DETAILS.

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS
EVENING...DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL...AND POSSIBLE
MINOR RIVER FLOODING. PLEASE REFER TO THE FLOOD WATCH STATEMENT
FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON SATURDAY. PLEASE
REFER TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING STATEMENT FOR DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE NOW ACTIVATED. SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO SEND ALL
REPORTS OF DAMAGING WINDS...MEASURED WIND GUSTS OVER 40
MPH...BANKFULL OR NEAR BANKFULL STREAMS AND RIVERS...AND RAINFALL
MEASUREMENTS OF AN INCH OR MORE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
SPOTTERS ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO REPORT IF THEY OBSERVE LIGHTNING OR
HEAR THUNDER.

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:52 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 thunderstorm wind, 4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Western Ulster

When
December 1, 4:24 PM EST
Where
Western Ulster forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
41.888, -74.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tree was blown onto an apartment building, crashing through the roof and killing an individual inside in Wawarsing. This occurred from strong winds, well ahead of any thunderstorms.

High Wind, Western Rensselaer

When
December 1, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Western Rensselaer forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
42.711, -73.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees were reported down in Hensonville from strong gradient winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Herkimer

When
December 1, 4:51 PM EST
Where
Herkimer County, Ohio
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.320, -74.980

A tree was reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Ohio.

Thunderstorm Wind, Herkimer

When
December 1, 4:52 PM EST
Where
Herkimer County, 5.56 mi S of Beaver River
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.820, -74.920

A tree was reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Big Moose.

Thunderstorm Wind, Schoharie

When
December 1, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Schoharie County, 0.51 mi W of Summit
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
42.580, -74.590

Trees were reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Summit.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fulton

When
December 1, 5:05 PM EST
Where
Fulton County, 0.86 mi SE of Johnstown
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.011, -74.368

Trees were reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Johnstown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When
December 1, 5:09 PM EST
Where
Montgomery County, 1.23 mi NW of Glen
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
42.893, -74.347

Trees were reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Glen.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When
December 1, 5:13 PM EST
Where
Hamilton County, 4.15 mi N of Page Hill
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.580, -74.380

Trees were reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Speculator.

Thunderstorm Wind, Schenectady

When
December 1, 5:25 PM EST
Where
Schenectady County, 0.69 mi N of Duanesburg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
42.760, -74.130

Trees were reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Duanesburg.

Thunderstorm Wind, Saratoga

When
December 1, 5:35 PM EST
Where
Saratoga County, 1.71 mi SE of Saratoga Spgs Co Arp
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.032, -73.846

Wires were reported down due to thunderstorm winds in Milton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Albany

When
December 1, 5:49 PM EST to 6:01 PM EST
Where
Albany County, 0.51 mi E of Glenmont
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
42.600, -73.770

Several trees were reported down in Glenmont and Selkirk between 1749 EST and 1801 LST due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When
December 1, 6:01 PM EST
Where
Greene County, 0.86 mi SE of West Coxsackie
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
42.361, -73.808

Trees were reported down in Coxsackie due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ulster

When
December 1, 6:06 PM EST
Where
Ulster County, 0.69 mi S of Whitefield
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
41.790, -74.230

Trees were reported down in Accord due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rensselaer

When
December 1, 6:20 PM EST
Where
Rensselaer County, 0.51 mi E of Petersburg
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
42.750, -73.340

Trees were reported down in Petersburg due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dutchess

When
December 1, 6:26 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Dutchess County, Rhinebeck to 4 mi NE of Rhinebeck
Measured
67 kt (77 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
41.920, -73.920

A NWS Storm Survey Team confirmed that straight line winds struck the region from Rhinebeck to the Sepasco Lake area between 18:26 EST and 18:30 EST on Friday, December 1st.|Damage occurred along a four mile long path, over an approximate width of 100 yards, extending from the village of Rhinebeck northeast to Sepasco Lake. The damage swath rougly paralleled Route 308. Damage was confined mainly to falling trees. There was essentially no damage from the wind alone to structures. However, some structures sustained damage from falling trees. Many of the downed trees were pine, although a fair number were hardwoods. Damage occurred in three main areas, in the Village of Rhinebeck, the Harter Lane area, and the Sepasco Lake area.|The estimated winds were at 75 to 80 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Columbia

When
December 1, 6:27 PM EST
Where
Columbia County, 2.65 mi WNW of Greendale
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.215, -73.848

Structural damage to a house was reported in Greendale due to thunderstorm winds. In addition, a carport was torn off, and trees and wires were also reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Columbia

When
December 1, 6:38 PM EST
Where
Columbia County, Copake
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.100, -73.550

Trees and wires were reported down in Copake due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dutchess

When
December 1, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Dutchess County, 0.86 mi NE of Salt Pt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.809, -73.788

Trees were reported down in Salt Point due to thunderstorm winds.

High Wind, Eastern Rensselaer

When
December 1, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Rensselaer forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.711, -73.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wires were reported down in Hoosick from strong gradient winds. Also, numerous power outages were reported in eastern Rensselaer County from the strong winds.

High Wind, Southern Washington

When
December 1, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Washington forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.314, -73.431 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wires were reported down in Buskirk from strong gradient winds. Also, numerous power outages were reported across southern Washington County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dutchess

When
December 1, 7:15 PM EST
Where
Dutchess County, 8 mi ESE of Poughkeepsie
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.656, -73.787

Trees and wires were reported down in Lagrangeville due to thunderstorm winds.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
High Wind, Western Ulster2006-12-0161MalePermanent HomeDirect

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2006

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: 8146, 8147, 8123, 8126, 8127, 8128, 8129, 8130, 8132, 8133, 8134, 8136, 8137, 8138, 8719, 8140, 8141, 8142, 8148, 8149, 8729.