A cold front brought isolated severe weather to Herkimer county, New York during the late afternoon hours of Friday, August 18th, 2017. These storms knocked down numerous 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 ALY wrote it up.
A cold front brought isolated severe weather to Herkimer county, New York during the late afternoon hours of Friday, August 18th, 2017. These storms knocked down numerous trees and power lines.
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 Aug 18, 6:01 PM EST, 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albany NY 701 PM EDT Fri Aug 18 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Scattered showers and muggy conditions will continue into tonight ahead of a cold front. Behind this front, most of Saturday looks fair and breezy before a second cold front crosses the area Saturday night with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. Fair weather and seasonable temperatures are forecast for Sunday. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... At 7 PM...after coordination with surrounding offices, have decided to cancel severe thunderstorm watch. Previous... Strongest storms are now over Dutchess and Litchfield Counties. They appear to be sub-severe, but likely producing high rainfall rates. A second line of storms has developed in clear area over central New York and extends from near watertown to Syracuse southwest towards Elmira. A couple of cells in this line have lightning. This line of storms will likely reach Herkimer County between 730 and 8 PM. HRRR shows the line of storms reaching the Hudson Valley between 11PM and midnight and then weakening. Lingering showers and thunderstorms this evening will exit east but since the primary cold front lags behind, there will be a threat for clouds and isolated to scattered showers into the late night tonight. Patchy fog also expected in areas that see clearing and have moist ground from today's rainfall. && .SHORT TERM /7 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... After some early morning fog and stratus burns off, Clearing is progged by models to be over the Albany Forecast Area on Saturday until late in the day or early evening when next cold front approaches. Trailing strong upper energy tracks through the region Saturday night the boundary layer thermal gradient associated with the low level cold front also tracks though. The upper jet is fairly strong for this time of year also. Surface based instability is expected to be limited but midlevel lapse rates are forecasted to steepen considerably. West low level flow does not suggest much convergence but the low level temperature and dew point boundary could provide enough forcing to support some isolated to scattered shower and thunderstorm activity during the evening and overnight. Lows Saturday in the 50s and 60s. Highs Saturday in the 80s but mid to upper 70s higher terrain. Dry weather returns Sunday but even with cooler boundary layer temperatures west to northwest boundary layer flow and considerable sunshine, highs Sunday should be in the 80s again with mid 70s higher terrain. Sunday night is expected to be mainly clear with lows in the 50s to around 60. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... The long term portion of the forecast starts out with fair weather and summer-like warmth, as a ridge of high pressure moves across the region and off the mid Atlantic coast. Relatively high mid level heights and subsidence should allow daytime highs to reach the mid 80s in valleys Monday, with upper 70s/lower 80s across higher terrain, followed by 85-90 for valleys, and 80-85 across higher elevations Tuesday. Last time Albany hit 90 was on June 13 (KGFL, June 12 and KPOU, July 21), and we have a shot to do it again on Tuesday. An approaching cold front could spark some showers/thunderstorms late Tuesday afternoon, mainly across the western Adirondacks. Overnight lows Monday night should mainly be in the lower/mid 60s, except for some 50s across higher terrain. For Tuesday night-Wednesday, a cold front is expected to approach from the northwest. The uncertainty at this time is how quickly and how much the low strengthens. This also impacts frontal timing across the region, with the general consensus of a late night/early morning frontal passage. This would tend to decrease the overall threat for severe weather on Wednesday. However, a slower frontal passage for sometime later Wednesday would increase this potential, as mid tropospheric winds would be quite strong, combined with better instability for the afternoon hours. For now, have sided with consensus with best chances for showers/thunderstorms late Tuesday night into Wed morning. It should be warm/humid Tue night ahead of the front, with lows mainly in the 60s, then highs Wednesday mainly in the 70s to around 80 for valleys, and 60s to lower 70s across higher terrain. Wednesday night-Thursday, assuming the aforementioned cold front does not slow down, high pressure is expected to build in from southern Canada and the Great Lakes region with cooler and less humid conditions. There could be a few showers across mainly higher elevations of the southern Adirondacks/southern VT due to lingering cold air aloft and some mid/upper level cyclonic flow. Expect lows Wed night mainly in the 50s, with some 40s expected in sheltered upland valleys; highs Thursday mainly in the 70s for lower elevations, and 60s across higher terrain. Cold advection continues on Friday with generally fair weather, but cool, fall- like conditions expected. Lows in the 40s and 50s and highs in the 60s and 70s. && .AVIATION /23Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Showers continue across the forecast area this afternoon ahead of an upper-level disturbance. There is a moist tropical airmass in place, so the showers will contain periods of heavy downpours. TEMPO groups for IFR visibility have been added to account for the elements of heavy rainfall. An isolated thunderstorm cannot be ruled out, but thus far, activity has been sporadic and so TS was not included in the TAFs. Coverage of showers will begin to decrease from northwest to southeast this evening, but pockets of rainfall could persist until around midnight. During the overnight period, indications are that a low-level stratus deck will form late. These clouds may be accompanied by reduced visibility. There is a window for some clearing late this evening and early tonight. If this occurs, then fog would become more of an issue. Greatest potential for clearing and dense fog development appears to be at KGFL. Conditions improve a few hours after sunrise on Saturday with conditions becoming VFR as a slightly drier airmass builds in. Winds this afternoon will be from the south at around 5 to 10 kt, except stronger with some gusts to around 20 kt at KALB. Winds tonight will become light and variable, increasing to around 5 kt out of the west Saturday morning. Outlook... Saturday Night: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Sunday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Sunday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Monday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Monday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Tuesday: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Tuesday Night: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Wednesday: High Operational Impact. Likely SHRA...TSRA. && .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered showers and muggy conditions will continue into tonight ahead of a cold front. Behind this front, most of Saturday looks fair and breezy before a second cold front crosses the area Saturday night with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. Fair weather and seasonable temperatures are forecast for Sunday. RH values will be near 100 percent at night. RH values will be 50 to 65 percent Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Winds will be south at 15 mph or less through tonight when winds shift to west. Winds will be west at 15 mph or less Saturday, and northwest at 15 MPH or less on Sunday. && .HYDROLOGY... A frontal system will bring showers and thunderstorms to the region through late tonight. Locally heavy downpours are possible. Heavy downpours may lead to minor flooding of poor drainage, urban and low lying areas. Main stem rivers may see some minor rises, but no river flooding is expected with this rainfall. Total rainfall amounts through tonight will be variable depending on exactly where showers/thunderstorms track. While most areas should see at least a half inch of rain, its possible that some point locations may see an inch or two of rain. Other isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible Saturday night along a reinforcing cold front. Less humid air will start to work its way into the region after the cold front tracks through. Drier weather is expected Sunday into Monday. For details on specific area rivers and lakes, including observed and forecast river stages and lake elevations, please visit the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service /AHPS/ graphs on our website. && .EQUIPMENT... While repairing the azimuthal gear box, radar technicians have determined that the bull gear on KENX radar needs to be replaced. This will require the radar to be out of service until at least next Friday, August 25th. && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. NY...None. MA...None. VT...None. && SYNOPSIS...SND NEAR TERM...SND SHORT TERM...SND LONG TERM...SND AVIATION...IAA/Thompson FIRE WEATHER...SND HYDROLOGY...SND EQUIPMENT...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albany NY 659 PM EDT Fri Aug 18 2017 CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066- 082>084-VTZ013>015-191100- Northern Litchfield-Southern Litchfield-Northern Berkshire- Southern Berkshire-Northern Herkimer-Hamilton-Southern Herkimer- Southern Fulton-Montgomery-Northern Saratoga-Northern Warren- Northern Washington-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-Northern Fulton-Southeast Warren- Southern Washington-Bennington-Western Windham-Eastern Windham- 659 PM EDT Fri Aug 18 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, east central New York and southern Vermont. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorm are possible this evening. Storms will be capable of producing locally heavy downpours which will lead to ponding of water on roadways and possibly minor flooding of poor drainage and low lying areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. There is a chance for thunderstorms Tuesday night and Wednesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
309 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
MAZ001-181945-
Northern Berkshire-
309 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
...A SHOWER WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
At 309 PM EDT, a shower was located over Florida, or over North
Adams, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with this shower.
this shower will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern
Northern Berkshire County, including the following locations: Hairpin
Turn, East Renfrew, Whitcomb Summit, Eastern Summit, West Summit,
Zylonite, Noel Field, Briggsville, North Adams State College Athletic
Field and Drury.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this shower, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 4269 7295 4269 7298 4268 7298 4267 7300
4266 7298 4267 7296 4265 7295 4262 7310
4273 7314 4274 7311 4274 7303 4270 7302
4270 7295
TIME...MOT...LOC 1909Z 245DEG 22KT 4269 7306
DBTSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
357 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
NYZ063-064-182100-
Western Ulster-Eastern Ulster-
357 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN ULSTER COUNTY...
At 357 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Kerhonkson, or
near Ellenville, moving east at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.
This storm will be near...
High Falls around 420 PM EDT.
New Paltz and Tillson around 425 PM EDT.
Highland around 435 PM EDT.
Port Ewen around 440 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Cherrytown, Rosendale,
Maple Hill, Forest Glen, Fantinekill, Stone Ridge, Elting Corners,
Marbletown, Mombaccus and Cottekill.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 4170 7437 4182 7438 4192 7396 4190 7396
4182 7395 4177 7395 4175 7394 4172 7395
4169 7394
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 261DEG 21KT 4178 7428
DBTSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Albany NY 500 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017 CTZ001-NYZ064>066-182200- Northern Litchfield-Eastern Dutchess-Western Dutchess-Eastern Ulster- 500 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017 ...A THUNDERSTORM WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL LITCHFIELD...EAST CENTRAL ULSTER AND CENTRAL DUTCHESS COUNTIES... At 458 PM EDT, a thunderstorm was located over Hyde Park, or 7 miles north of Poughkeepsie, moving east at 20 mph. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm and will cause ponding of water on roadways and some flooding of poor drainage and low lying areas. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Also, winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm. This storm will be near... Pleasant Valley around 515 PM EDT. Stanfordville around 535 PM EDT. Millbrook around 540 PM EDT. Dover Plains around 555 PM EDT. Amenia and Sharon around 600 PM EDT. Other locations impacted by this storm include Salt Point, Norrie Heights, Lithgow, Hoxie Corner, Skiff Mountain, Haviland, Smithfield, South Amenia, Shunpike and Shekomeko. LAT...LON 4170 7402 4188 7405 4198 7347 4171 7342 TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 262DEG 16KT 4180 7395 IAA
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
528 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
NYZ063>066-182230-
Eastern Dutchess-Western Ulster-Western Dutchess-Eastern Ulster-
528 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
...A THUNDERSTORM WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN
ULSTER AND SOUTHERN DUTCHESS COUNTIES...
At 526 PM EDT, a thunderstorm was located over Bloomingburg, or 8
miles north of Middletown, moving east at 40 mph.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm and will cause
ponding of water on roadways and flooding of poor drainage and low
lying areas. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
In addition, poor vsibilities will make driving very difficult.
Winds gusts in excess of 30 mph are possible with this storm.
This storm will be near...
Wallkill around 545 PM EDT.
Modena around 550 PM EDT.
Plattekill around 555 PM EDT.
Beacon and Marlboro around 600 PM EDT.
Wappingers Falls around 605 PM EDT.
Fishkill and Myers Corner around 610 PM EDT.
Hopewell Junction around 615 PM EDT.
Pawling around 630 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Stormville, Baker
Corner, Knapps Corner, Beekman, Dwaarkill, New Hamburg, Glenham,
Clove Valley, Poughquag and Pecksville.
LAT...LON 4145 7400 4152 7400 4159 7396 4158 7405
4160 7407 4160 7409 4162 7413 4158 7413
4160 7425 4163 7426 4159 7436 4164 7439
4167 7444 4165 7352 4153 7353 4149 7393
4144 7398
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 274DEG 35KT 4158 7444
IAASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
624 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
NYZ064>066-182330-
Eastern Dutchess-Western Dutchess-Eastern Ulster-
624 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
...A THUNDERSTORM WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN
ULSTER AND SOUTHERN DUTCHESS COUNTIES...
At 623 PM EDT, a thunderstorm was located over Gardnertown, or near
Walden, moving east at 20 mph.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm and will cause
ponding of water on roadways and flooding of poor drainage and low
lying areas. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
In addition, poor vsibilities will make driving very difficult.
Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with this storm.
This storm will be near...
Beacon around 640 PM EDT.
Marlboro around 645 PM EDT.
Wappingers Falls around 655 PM EDT.
Fishkill around 700 PM EDT.
Myers Corner around 705 PM EDT.
Hopewell Junction around 715 PM EDT.
Pawling around 730 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Tuckers Corner,
Stormville, Knapps Corner, Beekman, New Hamburg, Glenham, Clove
Valley, Poughquag, Billings and Pecksville.
LAT...LON 4145 7400 4152 7400 4157 7396 4159 7396
4158 7405 4160 7407 4160 7409 4162 7413
4158 7413 4159 7420 4166 7420 4170 7361
4152 7360 4149 7393 4144 7398 4145 7399
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 266DEG 16KT 4155 7410
IAASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albany NY
718 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
NYZ032-033-038-190015-
Northern Herkimer-Hamilton-Southern Herkimer-
718 PM EDT FRI AUG 18 2017
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WESTERN HAMILTON AND
HERKIMER COUNTIES...
At 717 PM EDT, radar indicated thunderstorms were located along a
line extending from 6 miles southeast of Indian River to Boonville
to near Verona. Movement was east at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with these storms.
These storms will be near...
Big Moose around 800 PM EDT.
Newport, Middleville, Poland and Cold Brook around 815 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Beaver River, West
Frankfort, Nobleboro, Curtis, Farrel Corner, Countryman, Quaker
Beach, First Lake, Burrell Corners and Partlow.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with some of the storms and will
cause ponding of water on roadways and flooding of poor drainage and
low lying areas. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
LAT...LON 4322 7507 4326 7516 4330 7515 4333 7508
4404 7516 4410 7451 4349 7458 4305 7484
4307 7520
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 265DEG 21KT 4390 7523 4346 7529 4317 7553
IAAThe Ft Drum radar (KTYX), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:57 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees were knocked down on Simpson Road.
Trees and wires knocked down on Dover Road.
Multiple trees were knocked down on Military Road near Gauss Rd.
Multiple trees knocked down on Russia Road.
Trees were knocked down on Military Road near Mill Road.
Tree and wires were downed due to severe thunderstorm winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New York in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, August 2017
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: 711131, 711132, 711133, 711134, 711135, 711136.