An upper level short wave moved through portions of Central New York during the afternoon and early evening of the 17th. This sparked severe thunderstorms across the area.
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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 BGM wrote it up.
An upper level short wave moved through portions of Central New York during the afternoon and early evening of the 17th. This sparked severe thunderstorms across the area.
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 Binghamton, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 17, 12:52 PM EST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Binghamton NY 152 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 .SYNOPSIS... A persistent storm system will bring warmer temperatures and scattered storms to the region this weekend. The unsettled weather will continue through the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... 930 am Update... Visible satellite imagery shows plenty of insolation for central NY and northeast PA as low clouds and fog from the early morning mix out with the heating. With surface dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s and expected highs into the low 80s most places, mixed layered CAPEs are expected to climb to between 1000 and 2000 J/kg this afternoon. As the diurnal heating commences, a short wave seen on the water vapor imagery in the eastern Great Lakes tracks east and leads to cooling aloft at mid-levels. This added effect is leading to decent instability for our region. Also present is increasing deep vertical wind shear with the approach of the short wave. A belt of mid level winds around 35 to 45 knots or so at 500 mb moves across central NY and northeast PA between 21z and 00z. This leads to 0-6 km wind shear around 40 knots or so in north central NY with around 30-35 knots or so in south central NY and northeast PA. Our expectation is a line of strong to severe storms or bowing line segments with locally damaging winds. The CAMs show some sort of line of storms propagating across central NY and northeast PA between about 18z and 00z. Believe we will have severe storms over much of our forecast area this afternoon so will update HWO and graphical HWO. We are not as concerned with flash flooding as storms will be moving along at a pretty good clip based on the shear profiles. Projected storm motion is about 30 knots or so. Previous discussion... A short wave will pass through NY today. With unstable air in place and bulk shear values around 30 knots, it is likely another round of scattered thunderstorms will develop during the afternoon and continue into the evening. A few thunderstorms will produce heavy downpours and strong wind gusts. A marginal risk for severe thunderstorms exists into the evening hours. Precipitation will taper off overnight. On Sunday, a similar weather setup will be in place with a weak wave enhancing thunderstorm potential in a modestly unstable environment. Temperatures will rise to between 80 and 85 Saturday and to between 83 and 87 on Sunday. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... 355 AM Update... The combination of heat and humidity will be the main concern in the short term period, which appears to reach its zenith on Monday. Scattered afternoon-evening thunderstorms are also expected to continue. Continued 500mb height rises in west-southwest to zonal flow will occur Sunday night into Monday. That being said, atmosphere still does not become thermally capped, with heat dome/ridge positioned well to our south. We will remain in the belt of westerlies to the north of the ridge, complete with continued shortwaves and thus yet another period with diurnally-driven scattered convection. Deep shear will be enough to again pose a threat for a few cells to contain strong gusts Monday, and the instability offered by the combination of heat and humidity could also lead to locally heavy downpours. Precipitable water values of the atmospheric column get to around 1.5-1.8 inches. GFS-NAM-Canadian models time a shortwave passage with afternoon heating Monday, however, the latest ECMWF is earlier. This presents at least a little uncertainty for exactly how warm it will get, since an earlier wave arrival may hold back heating slightly. Overall odds favor Monday being the peak of the coming warm spell, with high temperatures of upper 80s-lower 90s and dewpoints of upper 60s-lower 70s. If this comes to fruition, Heat Advisories could eventually be needed since the Heat Index would get into the mid to upper 90s at lower elevations. Lows both Sunday night and Monday night, in the muggy environment, will only dip to mid to upper 60s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... 4 AM Update... Warmth and humidity are still expected Tuesday-Wednesday, with continued scattered showers and thunderstorms. Models still depict a cold frontal passage sometime Wednesday afternoon- evening which will especially pose a likelihood for more organized convection, followed by drier and cooler conditions for the remainder of the week. Previous discussion... Tuesday will be similar to Sunday and Monday with diurnal showers and storms and hot/humid conditions. Deep upper low/trough will dig across Ontario and the axis should be centered over the NE U.S by Wednesday night with an associated surface cold front pushing through. Showers and storms are expected with the front Wednesday into Thursday morning...but much drier and cooler conditions should prevail by Thursday night into Friday as strong surface high pressure builds in. Temperatures will still remain near normal and very pleasant...into the upper 70s and lower 80s...behind the front. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... IFR conditions over the next hour at SYR with thunderstorms moving in, then occasional MVFR to IFR conditions will be possible across all terminals through the rest of the afternoon and evening in thunderstorms. Activity largely winds down after 0Z, with mainly VFR conditions through 6Z across all sites. Expect slight reductions in visibility beginning by 9Z with a moist environment in the wake of thunderstorm activity. Looking like mainly MVFR visibility across all sites but ELM - where ceiling and visibility may drop to ALT MIN or even airport min. Conditions gradually improve to VFR after 13Z Sunday, then additional showers and thunderstorms Sunday afternoon may lead to occasional visibility restrictions. Outlook... Sunday night...MVFR conditions possible in lingering showers. Monday to Thursday...Restrictions possible in showers and storms. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NY...None. && SYNOPSIS...DJN/DJP NEAR TERM...DJN/DJP SHORT TERM...MDP LONG TERM...MPK/MDP AVIATION...HLC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Binghamton NY 1042 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 NYZ009-017-018-024-025-036-037-044>046-055>057-062-PAZ038>040-043- 044-047-048-072-181445- Northern Oneida-Southern Cayuga-Onondaga-Chemung-Tompkins-Madison- Southern Oneida-Cortland-Chenango-Otsego-Tioga-Broome-Delaware- Sullivan-Bradford-Susquehanna-Northern Wayne-Wyoming-Lackawanna- Luzerne-Pike-Southern Wayne- 1042 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. ...POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... A line of thunderstorms is expected to develop in western New York and move east southeast this afternoon and evening through central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. The potential exists for strong to severe thunderstorms as this line of storms moves through. The primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. Frequent lightning and locally heavy downpours will also be possible. The storms will taper off later in the evening. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local media for the latest updates on this situation. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Temperatures approaching 90 degrees on Monday will combine with high dew points to produce apparent temperatures in the mid 90s. Stay tuned for later updates on the hot temperatures forecast for Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. NYZ015-016-022-023-181445- Yates-Seneca-Steuben-Schuyler- 1042 AM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. ...POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON... A line of thunderstorms is expected to develop in western New York and move east southeast this afternoon through central New York. The potential exists for strong to severe thunderstorms as this line of storms moves through. The primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. Frequent lightning and locally heavy downpours will also be possible. The storms will taper off by this evening. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local media for the latest updates on this situation. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. There is a marginal risk for severe thundertorms on Sunday afternoon. A few thunderstorms could produce strong gusty winds and heavy downpours. Temperatures approaching 90 degrees on Monday will combine with high dew points to produce apparent temperatures in the mid 90s. Stay tuned for later updates on the hot temperatures forecast for Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. NICOSIA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
833 AM EDT SAT AUG 17 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0832 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 E VOAK 42.73N 77.12W
08/17/2019 M3.20 INCH YATES NY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
DJNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
851 AM EDT SAT AUG 17 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0850 AM HEAVY RAIN FENNER 42.97N 75.79W
08/17/2019 M1.40 INCH MADISON NY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
DJNSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Binghamton NY 144 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 NYZ009-037-171815- Southern Oneida NY-Northern Oneida NY- 144 PM EDT Sat Aug 17 2019 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...CENTRAL ONEIDA COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM EDT... At 144 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Blossvale, or 7 miles west of Rome, moving northeast at 15 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Rome, Lee, Taberg, Blossvale, Delta Lake and Stokes Corner. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 4322 7566 4328 7570 4338 7550 4324 7542 TIME...MOT...LOC 1744Z 245DEG 14KT 4325 7564 Kistner
The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:02 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down several trees along Allen Road near Allen Road Elementary School. Portions of the road were blocked.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down several trees and wires in the Schepps Corner area near Kirkville Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down several trees and large branches on Myers Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree and wires on Chestnut Ridge Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree, blocking Daily Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree on a road near Airport Road and Route 69.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down trees and wires along Dundee-Lakemont Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down multiple trees near a nature center.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree and wires on Curren Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down an electric pole and wires at the Villa Roma Resort.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree and wires near 58 Polster Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New York in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, August 2019
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: 853735, 853734, 853736, 853737, 853738, 853739, 853740, 853741, 853742, 853743, 853744, 853745, 853746, 853747.