A cold front moved across eastern New York and western New England on Wednesday, December 10th, ushering a cold airmass into the region. A low pressure system developed over the southeast states Wednesday and Wednesday night.
Every event with a place to put it; 27 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS ALY wrote it up.
A cold front moved across eastern New York and western New England on Wednesday, December 10th, ushering a cold airmass into the region. A low pressure system developed over the southeast states Wednesday and Wednesday night. This storm then headed northeast Thursday and Thursday night, December 11th, with precipitation spreading northward well in advance of the low. The low continued to track northeast, passing over the mid Atlantic region late Thursday night, and over the New York City Metropolitan area and southern New England Friday morning, December 12th. The low then moved to the Canadian Maritimes Friday night.
As the storm approached, warmer air moved in aloft, and with a cold airmass remaining in place at the surface, this set the stage for a significant mixed precipitation event. The precipitation came down heavy at times, especially Thursday night. Hourly precipitation rates of one quarter to one third of an inch were reported for several hours in the form of freezing rain across much of the region. Thunder was even reported in Glens Falls. The precipitation changed back to snow before ending by midday Friday. Total ice accretion from freezing rain ranged from around one half of an inch, up to one inch across portions of the Capital District and the Berkshires. North and west of the Capital District, including the Saratoga region and east central Mohawk Valley, temperatures were colder and frozen precipitation fell. Snow and sleet amounts ranged from 2 to 4 inches just north and west of the Capital District, while up to 8 to 12 inches of snow and some sleet fell across portions of the southern Adirondacks.
The ice storm resulted in widespread damage to trees and resultant power outages across eastern New York, where an estimated 220,000 utility customers lost power. Many schools and businesses were shut down for several days due to the loss of power, and impassable roads from extensive fallen debris, resulting in significant economic and societal impacts. States of emergency were declared across large portions of eastern New York. The hardest hit areas were within the immediate Capital District, across Albany and extreme southern Saratoga Counties, as well as across the central and southern Taconics, from central Rensselaer County into Columbia County and northern Dutchess County.
Bitterly cold temperatures followed in the wake of the storm Saturday and Sunday, compounding the power outages across the region. Numerous warming shelters were setup to assist those who were without power and heat.
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 11, 12:40 PM EST, 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
1240 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A STORM DEVELOPING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL TRACK NORTHEAST
ALONG THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. THIS STORM
WILL BE SIGNIFICANT WITH A VARIETY OF PRECIPITATION TYPES AND
HEAVY AT TIMES. THIS STORM WILL QUICKLY LIFT AWAY FROM THE REGION
FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH TRANQUIL CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED FOR THE
WEEKEND.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX TEMPERATURE PROFILE EVOLVING ACROSS THE CWA
TODAY. COLD ADVECTION HAS SLOWED DOWN SOMEWHAT AS MID AND UPPER
LEVEL FLOW HAS BECOME NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE SURFACE FEATURES WITH
A QUASI-STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY EXTENDING FROM THE NATIONS
CAPITAL TO JUST SOUTHEAST OF MASSACHUSETTS COASTLINE. WE ARE
OCCASIONALLY OBSERVING BOUTS OF SLEET AND SNOW THIS MORNING AS THE
700-500MB FGEN IS TRYING TO SHOW SOME LIFE AS UPPER LEVEL JET
ENTRANCE REGION DYNAMICS WAS SITUATED OVER CENTRAL NY. THESE
FEATURES ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN SOMEWHAT THIS MORNING WITH
INCREASED BAROCLINICITY SETTING UP SHOP ACROSS THE
CATSKILLS...CAPITAL REGION AND THE BERKS/SOUTHERN GREENS. PRECIP
ALONG AND SOUTH OF THIS BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN
COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THROUGH THE DAY. PORTIONS OF THE DACKS AND
WESTERN MOHAWK VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN FAIRLY DRY ALTHOUGH
WE WILL RETAIN THE CHANCE POPS FOR NOW.
PRECIP TYPE WILL BE THE MOST PROBLEMATIC. CROSS SECTIONS AND VWP/S
FROM RADAR SITES SHOW THE SHALLOW NATURE OF THIS COLD AIR WHICH IS
EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON WITH SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN. TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE MID HUDSON VALLEY AND
SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD WILL BE CLOSE TO FREEZING WHERE A MIXTURE OF
RAIN IS ADDED TO THE MIX.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
...SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION EVENT TO UNFOLD TONIGHT...
THIS IS THE PERIOD WHERE THE STORM WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST IMPACT
FROM TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. H2O VAPOR IMAGERY REVEALS POTENT
WAVE OVER LOUISIANA WITH IMPRESSIVE CONVECTION OVER THE EASTERN
GULF OF MEXICO HEADING INTO THE SOUTHEAST CONUS. SATELLITE
REPRESENTATION SHOWS COMMA HEAD EVOLVING WHICH NOT ONLY INDICATES
HOW DEEP AND VERTICALLY STACKED THIS STORM IS...BUT IMPRESSIVE
TROPICAL CONNECTIONS FEEDING INTO THIS STORM. NEEDLESS TO
SAY...PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL BE IMPRESSIVE /MORE ON THIS
SHORTLY/. BASED ON THE LATEST GLOBAL MODEL PROJECTIONS AND SHORT
TERM GUIDANCE...SURFACE WAVE WILL TRACK FROM THE SOUTHEAST CONUS
AND REFORM JUST EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS THIS EVENING. AS THE
UPPER LOW CATCHES UP TO THE SURFACE LOW...WE EXPECT THIS LOW TO
QUICKLY INTENSIFY AS IT RIDES NORTHEAST AND ACCELERATE TOWARD THE
GULF OF MAINE FRIDAY MORNING. THIS TRACK NORMALLY PRODUCES HEAVY
SNOW AMOUNTS BUT WE ARE MISSING A STRONG HIGH TO THE NORTH WHICH
BRINGS INTO THE EQUATION PRECIP TYPES.
TRENDS IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE HAVE BEEN TOWARD THE
WARMER SIDE WITH LITTLE CHANGE SEEN IN THE LOWER LEVELS WHERE
TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING /SO NEARLY STEADY
TEMPERATURES EXPECTED WITH PERHAPS A SLOW RISE OVERNIGHT/. A
PRONOUNCED PERIOD OF SNOW/SLEET NORTHWEST OF ALBANY...A MIXTURE OF
SNOW/SLEET/FZRA FOR THE CAPITAL REGION...BERKS...SOUTHERN
VT...CATSKILLS... AND MAINLY RAIN/FZRA FROM THE MID HUDSON VALLEY
AND NORTHWEST CT. FOR NORTHWEST CT...CROSS SECTIONS AND HOURLY
BUFR PROFILES INDICATE ENOUGH WARM AIR WILL ADVECT INTO SOUTHERN
LITCHFIELD COUNTY WHERE THE THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT ICE IS
DIMINISHING. THEREFORE...WE WILL DROP THE WARNING FOR SOUTHERN
LITCHFIELD TO AN ADVISORY BUT KEEP THE WARNING FOR THE HILLS.
THANKS FOR THE EXTENSIVE COLLABORATION WITH OKX THIS MORNING.
WATER EQUIVALENT AMOUNTS FROM THIS EVENT COULD EXCEED 2 INCHES.
THIS IS DUE TO A VERY STRONG SIGNAL OF 2D FGEN MAINLY ALONG AND
EAST OF THE HUDSON RIVER. THERE STILL REMAINS A HEALTHY LAYER OF
NEGATIVE EPV AND WE CAN NOT RULE OUT A COUPLE RUMBLES OF THUNDER
OVERNIGHT. ICE ACCUMULATIONS COULD BE APPROACHING 1 INCH MAINLY ON
TREES AND ELEVATED SURFACES ACROSS THE ICE STORM WARNING AREA.
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS NORTHWEST OF ALBANY ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE AROUND
7 INCHES.
MOHAWK VALLEY/HUDSON VALLEY CONVERGENCE STILL LOOKS POSSIBLE ON
THE BACKSIDE OF THIS DEPARTING STORM. IN ADDITION...DEFORMATION
AXIS COULD POSE ANOTHER ROUND OF SOME ACCUMULATIONS FOR THE BERKS
AND SOUTHERN GREEN MOUNTAINS. SUBSIDENCE INCREASES QUICKLY AROUND
THE NOON HOUR WITH A QUICK DECREASE IN PRECIP AND PERHAPS PARTIAL
SUNSHINE. SOME LAKE EFFECT COULD BRING SOME LIGHT SNOWFALL TO THE
DACKS AND WESTERN MOHAWK VALLEY AS DELTA T/S INCREASE GREATER THAN
13C.
CLEARING SKIES FRIDAY NIGHT AND HIGH PRESSURE SETTLING INTO THE
REGION WILL RESULT IN TEMPERATURES DROPPING RATHER QUICKLY INTO
THE TEENS. THIS MAY RESULT IN AREAS OF BLACK ICE THAT WILL NEED
TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
NO CHANGES TO THE LONG TERM...PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
IN THE WAKE OF THE STORM...THERE MAY BE SOME LINGERING LAKE EFFECT
SNOW SHOWERS INTO PARTS OF THE UPPER MOHAWK VALLEY AND WESTERN
DACKS FOR EARLY FRIDAY NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO NOSE
INTO REGION FROM THE SOUTHWEST FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE
NIGHT...WHICH WILL HELP LOWER THE INVERSION HEIGHT AND SQUELCH ANY
REMAINING LAKE EFFECT.
THE AFOREMENTIONED HIGH PRESSURE AREA WILL BE OVER THE REGION ON
SATURDAY...AND JUST EAST OF THE REGION BY SUNDAY. THIS WILL PROVIDE
A DRY WEEKEND WITH MAINLY CLEAR SKIES.. TEMPERATURES WILL BE CHILLY
ON SATURDAY /MAINLY 20S ACROSS THE CWA/...BUT WILL WARM UP THROUGH
THE 30S FOR SUNDAY WITH THE RETURN FLOW AROUND THE HIGH. LOW TEMPS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUITE COLD...ESP WITH THE SNOW/ICE PACK IN
PLACE...SO HAVE GONE A FEW DEGREES BELOW MOS NUMBERS TO ACCOUNT FOR
BOTH FRI/SAT NIGHTS. SOUTHWEST FLOW SHOULD ALLOW FOR EVEN WARMER
TEMPS ON MONDAY...BUT THERE MAY BE A FEW MORE MID/HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS
AS A FRONTAL SYSTEM BEGINS TO APPROACH.
THE NEXT FEATURE TO WATCH WILL BE THAT FRONTAL SYSTEM APPROACHING
FOR NEXT WEEK...PROB AROUND THE MON NIGHT/TUES TIME PERIOD. THIS
SYSTEM LOOKS TO BE MORE OF PACIFIC ORIGIN...WITH THE BEST UPPER
LEVEL ENERGY LIFTING INTO CANADA AND JUST THE TRAILING COLD FRONT
PUSHING ACROSS THE REGION. THIS LOOKS TO BE MAINLY A RAIN EVENT FOR
THE REGION...WITH PERHAPS SOME WET SNOW ON THE BACKSIDE ACROSS THE
ADIRONDACKS AS THE COLD AIR BLEEDS IN BEHIND THE SYSTEM. THE GFS AND
ECMWF HANDLE THE PATTERN A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY BEHIND THIS
SYSTEM...AS THE ECMWF BRINGS UP ANOTHER WAVE UP ALONG THE FRONT FOR
WEDNESDAY...WHILE THE GFS ALLOWS HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD INTO THE
REGION. WILL JUST PLAY THE FORECAST AS MAINLY CHC -SHRA FOR THE
MIDWEEK PERIOD FOR NOW.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
LARGE AREA OF A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION HAS SPREAD OVER ALL
BUT THE NORTHWESTERN PARTS OF THE ALBANY FORECAST AREA...INCLUDING
THE HUDSON VALLEY AND MOST OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY. THE PREDOMINANT
PRECIPITATION TYPES ARE SLEET WEST AND NORTH OF ALBANY AND FREEZING
RAIN EAST AND SOUTH OF ALBANY. THESE CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO
CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. FLIGHT CONDITIONS WILL RANGE FROM VFR
TO THE WEST AND NORTH TO IFR SOUTH AND EAST...WITH ALBANY AND
POUGHKEEPSIE MOSTLY IFR BUT RANGING FROM MVFR TO LIFR CEILINGS
AND VISIBILITY. IFR/LIFR WILL PREDOMINATE OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN
WEST AND EAST OF THE HUDSON VALLEY AND SOUTH OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY
CORRIDORS. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE LIGHT FROM THE NORTH AND NORTH
EAST AT THE SURFACE...VEERING WITH HEIGHT TO THE SOUTHWEST AROUND
10000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL...WITH TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING
BETWEEN AROUND 5000 AND 10000 FEET WITH A LAYER OF COLDER AIR
BELOW. A COMPLEX COASTAL STORM WAS BRINGING IN A LAYER OF WARM
AND MOIST AIR ALOFT OVER COLDER AIR CLOSE TO THE GROUND. AS THIS
STORM MOVES EAST OF THE REGION FRIDAY MORNING COLDER AIR WILL
REPLACE THE WARMER AIR ALOFT...CHANGING THE MIXED PRECIPITATION
BACK TO SNOW BEFORE IT TAPERS OFF.
OUTLOOK...
FRI AM...IFR/LIFR. MIXD PRECIP CHANGING TO ALL SNOW.
FRI PM-MON...VFR. NO SIG WX.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN
CATSKILLS...MID HUDSON VALLEY AND TACONICS IN NEW YORK...BERKSHIRE
COUNTY IN MASSACHUSETTS AND LITCHFIELD COUNTY CONNECTICUT.
A FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BATTENKILL RIVER AT ARLINGTON VT REMAINS.
SPOTTER REPORTED LOWLAND FLOODING AND GAGE READING AT FLOOD STAGE.
HE ALSO REPORTED 1.07 INCHES OF RAIN THROUGH NOON. THERE WAS
PROBABLY OVER AN INCH OF WATER EQUIVALENT IN THE SNOWPACK. CHECKED
THE NOHRSC WEB PAGE AND ON DEC 8TH IT WAS ESTIMATING A MAX OF 0.94
INCHES OF LIQUID IN THE BATTENKILL BASIN ABOVE BATTENVILLE NY.
BIG PRECIPITATION EVENT FOR THURSDAY/FRIDAY. THIS SECOND EVENT
MAY BRING AN ADDITIONAL 2+ INCHES OF PRECIPITATION TO THE
SOUTHEAST PART OF THE HYDROLOGIC SERVICE AREA. FORECASTS INDICATE
MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION FALLING BETWEEN 7 PM THURSDAY AND 7 AM
FRIDAY. ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE COLD ENOUGH AT
THE GROUND FOR FREEZING RAIN...FORECAST PRECIPITATION RATES OF ONE
QUARTER TO ONE THIRD OF AN INCH PER HOUR WOULD BE HIGH ENOUGH SO
THAT MUCH OF THE RAIN WILL RUN OFF THE GROUND INTO STREAMS AND
RIVERS BEFORE FREEZING. RIVER MODELS INDICATE THAT RIVERS IN THE
WATCH AREA COULD REACH MINOR FLOOD LEVELS. IN ADDITION...URBAN AND
POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. LAST WINTER WE HAD A
COUPLE OF EVENTS WHERE FREEZING RAIN OCCURRED WITH HIGH RAINFALL
RATES AND FLOODING WAS ALSO REPORTED IN THE SAME AREA. WITH
TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO CLIMB A BIT ABOVE FREEZING FOR SOUTHERN
LITCHFIELD...FLOOD CONCERNS HERE ARE MORE LIKELY.
RIVER ICE/ICE JAMS WILL NOT BE A CONCERN.
FOR DETAILS ON THE RIVERS...PLEASE VISIT THE ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC
PREDICTION SERVICE /AHPS/ GRAPHS ON OUR WEBSITE.
&&
.ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
CTZ001-013.
ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST FRIDAY FOR CTZ001.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM EST FRIDAY FOR CTZ013.
NY...FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NYZ058>061-063>066.
ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST FRIDAY FOR NYZ058>061-063>066.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EST
FRIDAY FOR NYZ039>041-043-047>054-083-084.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST
FRIDAY FOR NYZ032-033-038-042-082.
MA...FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
MAZ001-025.
ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST FRIDAY FOR MAZ001-025.
VT...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EST
FRIDAY FOR VTZ013>015.
&&
SYNOPSIS...BGM
NEAR TERM...BGM
SHORT TERM...BGM
LONG TERM...BJF
AVIATION...RCK
HYDROLOGY...DIRIENZO/BGMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 451 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008 NYZ032-033-038-042-082-121200- NORTHERN HERKIMER-HAMILTON-SOUTHERN HERKIMER-NORTHERN WARREN- NORTHERN FULTON- 451 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE ADIRONDACKS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. NYZ039-040-121200- SOUTHERN FULTON-MONTGOMERY- 451 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL MOHAWK VALLEY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. NYZ041-043-047>054-083-084-VTZ013>015-121200- NORTHERN SARATOGA-NORTHERN WASHINGTON-SCHOHARIE-WESTERN SCHENECTADY- EASTERN SCHENECTADY-SOUTHERN SARATOGA-WESTERN ALBANY-EASTERN ALBANY- WESTERN RENSSELAER-EASTERN RENSSELAER-SOUTHEAST WARREN- SOUTHERN WASHINGTON-BENNINGTON-WESTERN WINDHAM-EASTERN WINDHAM- 451 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CAPITAL REGION...SCHOHARIE VALLEY...TACONICS...LAKE GEORGE SARATOGA REGION AND SOUTHERN VERMONT. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CTZ001-MAZ001-025-NYZ058>061-063>066-121200- NORTHERN LITCHFIELD-NORTHERN BERKSHIRE-SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE- WESTERN GREENE-EASTERN GREENE-WESTERN COLUMBIA-EASTERN COLUMBIA- WESTERN ULSTER-EASTERN ULSTER-WESTERN DUTCHESS-EASTERN DUTCHESS- 451 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST FRIDAY... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LITCHFIELD HILLS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND MIDDLE HUDSON VALLEY INCLUDING PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN CATSKILLS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. ICE STORM WARNING. FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. ICE STORM WARNING. FLOOD WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CTZ013-121200- SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD- 451 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST FRIDAY... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD COUNTY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. FLOOD WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. FOR THE LATEST UPDATES...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ALBANY
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
18 ice storm, 5 winter weather, 4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.75 to just under 1 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county.
The hardest hit areas were near Gilboa, North Blenheim and Cobleskill.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to three quarters of an inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines.
The hardest hit areas included Halcott Center and Prattsville.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to three quarters of an inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines.
The hardest hit areas included Coxsackie and Athens.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to one inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county. Higher elevations across central portions of the county were hardest hit.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to one inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county.
Hardest hit areas included Red Hook and Salt Point. At least 12 roads were closed across the county due to fallen debris.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to one inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to one inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county.
The Town of Rochester was under a state of emergency due to numerous downed trees, tree limbs and power lines.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to one inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county.
The hardest hit areas included New Paltz and Kingston. Approximately 140 power lines were reported down across the county.
Ice accretion from freezing rain of one half to one inch occurred, resulting in widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines across the county. Higher elevations across central portions of the county were hardest hit.
A significant wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain fell, beginning Thursday afternoon, and ending midday Friday.
Snow and sleet accumulations of 3 to 6 inches fell.
In addition, freezing rain, with estimated accretions in excess of one half of an inch, led to numerous downed tree limbs, trees and power lines, especially in the vicinity of Corinth.
Three to six inches of snow and sleet fell across southern Fulton County, beginning Thursday evening, and ending midday Friday.
Two to five inches of snow and sleet fell across Montgomery County, beginning Thursday evening, and ending midday Friday.
Four to eight inches of snow and sleet fell across northern Fulton County, beginning Thursday evening, and ending midday Friday.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 0.75 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 1.0 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines. Hardest hit areas included Niskayuna and Schenectady.
In addition, a couple died in their home in Glenville as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator being used in their attached garage. A female, age 61, was found dead in her bedroom, and the male, age 65, was passed out in the living room and then pronounced dead when brought to the hospital. The gas powered generator was being used in the attached garage due to power loss from the ice storm, when exhaust fumes then permeated into the home.
In addition, a structure was destroyed by fire in Schenectady, sparked by a downed electrical line from the ice storm. The structure, a market, was leveled after fire consumed the structure.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 1.0 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines. Hardest hit areas included Clifton Park and Halfmoon.
Several trees were also reported down alongside the Adirondack Northway, Interstate 87, between exits 9 and 11.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 1.0 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines. Hardest hit areas included South Berne and Knox.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 1.0 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines. Hardest hit areas included Albany, Colonie, Delmar and Cohoes.
One tree limb fell onto a car windshield in Cohoes, and numerous power lines and large tree branches were reported down between Colonie and Menands.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 1.0 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines. Hardest hit areas included Poestenkill, East Greenbush, Brunswick, Averill Park and Troy.
Approximately 30 to 40 roads were closed across the county due to debris from fallen tree limbs and wires, which included Route 43 near Averill Park.
Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 1.0 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines.
Numerous roads, at least 30 to 40, were closed across the county due to fallen trees, limbs and wires.
Three to five inches of snow and sleet, along with up to one quarter of an inch of ice accretion from freezing rain fell across northern Washington County, beginning Thursday evening, and ending midday Friday.
A significant mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain occurred from Thursday evening, into midday Friday.
Snow and sleet accumulations of 2 to 5 inches, along with ice accretion of around one half inch, led to numerous reports of trees and power lines down, especially near Greenwich.
A significant wintry mix of snow, sleet and some freezing rain occurred from late Thursday afternoon, into midday Friday.
Snow and sleet accumulations ranged from 4 to 8 inches, in addition to ice accretion of up to one quarter of an inch from freezing rain.
Three to six inches of snow fell across northern Herkimer County, beginning Thursday evening, and ending midday Friday.
Snow, mixed with some sleet and freezing rain, fell across Hamilton County from Thursday evening into midday Friday.
Snow and sleet amounts of 6 to 8 inches were reported, with 8 inches at Indian Lake, and 6 inches at Wells.
Snow, mixed with some sleet and freezing rain, fell across southern Herkimer County from Thursday evening into midday Friday.
Snow and sleet amounts of 7 to 11 inches were reported, with 10.5 inches in Herkimer, and 6.5 inches at Poland.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm, Eastern Schenectady | 2008-12-13 | 61 | Female | Permanent Home | Indirect |
| Ice Storm, Eastern Schenectady | 2008-12-13 | 65 | Male | Permanent Home | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New York in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, December 2008
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 141838, 141849, 141850, 141851, 141853, 141854, 141855, 141856, 147964, 141831, 141834, 141835, 141836, 141839, 141840, 141841, 141842, 141843, 141844, 141845, 141837, 141846, 141848, 141832, 141833, 141828, 141829.