Thunderstorms developed during the evening hours in a warm, moist and unstable atmosphere. A few of these storms produced damaging winds that downed some trees and power lines.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 BUF wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed during the evening hours in a warm, moist and unstable atmosphere. A few of these storms produced damaging winds that downed some trees and power lines. In Contantia, a tree fell on and damaged a house.
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 Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 17, 2:10 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
310 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
A slow moving cold front will keep unsettled weather across our
region tonight into Sunday...as we can anticipate more beneficial
showers along with some possible thunderstorms. While some
improvement is expected late Sunday and Sunday night...noticeably
nicer weather will wait until Monday when high pressure will build
across the area from the Upper Ohio Valley. Mainly dry weather with
above normal temperatures will be featured for much of the remainder
of the week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
It will remain quite unsettled across the region tonight as the
second of a pair of frontal boundaries will slowly push across the
Lower Great Lakes. This will include the potential for some moderate
to heavy rain at times...although no hydrology related problems are
expected.
To start with...our environment will be prime for soaking rains as
PWAT values will be in the vicinity of 2 inches. These values will
be 3 STD above normal mid September values...which in this case
equates to a return interval of about once in a ten year period. In
any case...the plume of sub tropical moisture will slowly ease across
our forecast area during the course of the night and will support
rainfall amounts that could average more than inch for areas
mainly south and east of a line from Buffalo to Rochester.
The deep lift for the showers will be provided by several features.
The first will be the aforementioned slow moving cold front...but
even more significant in this case will be a strong 50kt low level
jet and strong upper level lift generated from a coupled H25 jet.
All of this will provide deep ascent for an airmass laden with
abundant GOMEX moisture. There will also be enough instability and
forcing to support some thunderstorms...especially over the Southern
Tier and Finger Lakes regions where some added instability will be
in place from limited afternoon heating.
After a 3-5 hour lull in pcpn behind the warm frontal pcpn from
the afternoon...showers and thunderstorms over Ohio will advect
across our region late this afternoon and evening. This activity
should blossom more than what is currently being observed...as the
above described forcing will come together/be focused over our
forecast area. As we work through the night...the widespread showers
and possible thunderstorms will taper off from the west.
On Sunday...while all of the guidance packages are in agreement that
much of the mid level moisture will be stripped away in the wake of
the cold front...there will still be abundant moisture in the low
levels. The front is also forecast to temporarily stall just to our
south and east as it will become parallel to the mid level flow
ahead of the supporting mid level shortwave. This will keep at least
the chance for showers and thunderstorms in place...particularly for
sites south and east of Buffalo and Rochester. The bulk of the day
will be rain free though with H85 temps in the vcnty of 14c keeping
a summery feel to the day as max temps will be int he mid to upper
70s.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
Low pressure will track into central Quebec Sunday night with a
trailing cold front slowly pushing its way east across western and
central New York. A parent mid level trough axis will shift east
from the Midwest states to western New York by Monday morning.
Chances of showers will linger into Sunday night along the slow
moving front. Low temperatures will also remain very mild only
slipping back into upper 50s and lower 60s Sunday night.
On Monday, the mid-level trough will cross New York pushing the
front and associated deeper synoptic moisture east into New
England. Incoming dry air and surface high pressure briefly
building in behind the departing front will help clear skies and
provide mainly dry weather with just a slight chance of a shower
east of Lake Ontario.
A secondary frontal system crossing the central Great Lakes Monday
night will cross the region Tuesday. Greater forcing does hold to
the north with only slight chance for any diurnally driven
showers. This second front is what will finally knock back
dewpoint temperatures into the more comfortable range of 50s F for
the midweek period.
Highs Monday will run in the mid to upper 70s for most with a few
isolated 80 degree readings possible toward the Finger Lakes.
Another mild night with lows only slipping back to between the mid
50s inland to mid 60s toward the lake shores.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
High confidence that this period will be above normal in
temperatures and largely quiet in terms of weather. Ridging over
the Ohio Valley will expand and intensify across the lower Great
Lakes as strong negative height anomalies dig through southern
Canada. A weak frontal will slide into the Great Lakes region
Thursday and Friday. This feature will be losing amplitude with
time and thus low level forcing not overly strong and mid level
forcing is peeling away to the northeast, as the shortwave trough
deamplifies moving through/atop large scale ridging. During the
time, the only real chance for any shower activity will be across
the North Country with the bulk of the area largely looking dry as
ridging continues to surge north.
By the weekend, questions begin to arise on whether shortwaves
will track close enough to the area for rain chances to drift
father to the south. Quite of bit of uncertainty and thus forecast
left largely dry save for low rain chances across the region on
Saturday.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Showers and possible thunderstorms associated with a warm front east
of Rochester will produce areas of MVFR cigs this afternoon...while
most of the far western sites will experience VFR conditions. The
exception will be at KJHW where MVFR cigs will persist.
For tonight...more widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms
will work into the region ahead of a cold front. This will lead to
deteriorating conditons with cigs for all sites lowering to MVFR
during the evening hours and to IFR levels after midnight or so.
LIFR cigs will be found at KJHW. There will also be the risk for
some low level wind shear.
On Sunday...fairly widespread IFR cigs early in the morning will
only slowly improve to MVFR by midday...then to VFR during the
afternoon. The lower cigs may be accompanied by some residual
showers.
Outlook...
Sunday Night...Cigs are likely to deteriorate to IFR to MVFR.
Monday...VFR.
Tuesday...Mainly VFR with a slight chance of showers.
Wednesday into Friday...VFR.
&&
.MARINE...
Freshening winds ahead of a slow moving cold front will support
small craft advisories that are in effect for most of the nearshore
waters...as well as for the IAG River and BUF Harbor.
In the wake of the front...a weakening pressure gradient will allow
winds to subside early on Sunday. Somewhat unsettled weather could
remain in place though into the afternoon as there will still be the
chance for some showers.
High pressure over the upper Ohio Valley Sunday evening will nose
across the Lower Great Lakes Sunday night and Monday. This will
allow for fine recreational boating conditions with light winds and
negligible waves.
&&
.BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NY...Beach Hazards Statement through Sunday morning for NYZ007.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 5 AM EDT Sunday
for LEZ020-040-041.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Sunday for LOZ045.
&&
SYNOPSIS...RSH
NEAR TERM...RSH
SHORT TERM...TMA
LONG TERM...TMA
AVIATION...RSH
MARINE...RSHHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY 451 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 NYZ007-182100- JEFFERSON- 451 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES... AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF NYZ006-008-182100- OSWEGO-LEWIS- 451 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES... AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF LOZ044-045-064-065-SLZ022-024-182100- LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM SODUS BAY TO MEXICO BAY- LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM MEXICO BAY TO THE SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER-LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM SODUS BAY TO MEXICO BAY- LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM MEXICO BAY TO THE SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER- SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER FROM CAPE VINCENT TO OGDENSBURG- SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER FROM OGDENSBURG TO SAINT REGIS- 451 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE ONTARIO AND SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES... AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF NYZ001>005-010>014-019>021-085-182100- NIAGARA-ORLEANS-MONROE-WAYNE-NORTHERN CAYUGA-NORTHERN ERIE-GENESEE- WYOMING-LIVINGSTON-ONTARIO-CHAUTAUQUA-CATTARAUGUS-ALLEGANY- SOUTHERN ERIE- 451 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES... AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF LEZ020-040-041-LOZ030-042-043-062-063-182100- UPPER NIAGARA RIVER AND BUFFALO HARBOR- LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO DUNKIRK- LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM DUNKIRK TO BUFFALO- LOWER NIAGARA RIVER- LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM THE NIAGARA RIVER TO HAMLIN BEACH- LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE WATERS FROM HAMLIN BEACH TO SODUS BAY- LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM THE NIAGARA RIVER TO HAMLIN BEACH- LAKE ONTARIO OPEN WATERS FROM HAMLIN BEACH TO SODUS BAY- 451 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE ERIE AND LAKE ONTARIO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES... AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BUFFALO CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY 532 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 NYZ001-002-010-011-085-172245- NIAGARA-ORLEANS-NORTHERN ERIE-GENESEE-SOUTHERN ERIE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NIAGARA FALLS...MEDINA...BUFFALO... BATAVIA...ORCHARD PARK...SPRINGVILLE 532 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THIS EVENING... AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CROSS THE NIAGARA FRONTIER BETWEEN 5:30 AND 7 PM EDT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTAIN DOWNPOURS THAT COULD RESULT IN A HALF TO ONE INCH OF RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOUR...ALONG WITH FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. RSH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY 541 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 NYZ019-020-172300- CHAUTAUQUA-CATTARAUGUS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JAMESTOWN...OLEAN 541 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2016 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THIS EVENING... AN AREA OF SHOWERS CONTAINING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CROSS THE WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER BETWEEN 5:30 AND 7:30 PM EDT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTAIN DOWNPOURS THAT WILL RESULT IN A HALF TO ONE INCH OF RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOUR...ALONG WITH FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. RSH
The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:43 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement reported trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm winds.
Law enforcement reported trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm winds.
Law enforcement reported trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm winds.
Trees and power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds.
Law enforcement reported trees and power lines downed by thunderstorm winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New York in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, September 2016
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: 661594, 661595, 661596, 661597, 661598.