A line of thunderstorms moved into Central New York ahead of a cold front during the afternoon and evening of the 29th. Some of these storms became severe with damaging winds and produced mainly tree and power line damage.
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 BGM wrote it up.
A line of thunderstorms moved into Central New York ahead of a cold front during the afternoon and evening of the 29th. Some of these storms became severe with damaging winds and produced mainly tree and power line damage.
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 May 29, 1:44 PM EST, 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Binghamton NY 244 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A storm system will spread thunderstorms across NY and PA today, with some storms containing strong winds, hail, and heavy downpours. Cooler weather will return Saturday morning and last into Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... 243 PM update... A severe thunderstorm watch is now in effect for our Northeastern PA counties and over the eastern half of Upstate NY. The best combination of MLCAPE values (>1500 j/kg) and eff Layer helicity (~100) exists along and east of I-81 over NY State. While helicity remains marginal, the short term models forecast shear to increase late this afternoon into early evening. Thunderstorm activity west of the watch box has struggled to organize with cores collapsing before reaching severe levels. We will continue to monitor thunderstorms as they enter the more favorable environment over the eastern forecast area. Another line of thunderstorms will move in from Western NY along the cold front this evening. Cooler, drier air will bring the thunderstorm threat to an end late this evening. Showers will taper off toward morning. An isolated shower will remain possible on Saturday as temperatures climb into the lower 70s under a mix of sun and clouds. Much cooler air will dive into NY and PA Saturday night. Temperatures will fall into the lower and middle 40s. 1059 AM update... Sunny breaks late this morning are allowing the atmosphere to rapidly destabilize. SPC's SREF probability maps now show a strong chance for >1000 mixed layer CAPEs east of I-81 with low level helicity maximized from our eastern borders into New England. In addition, the humid lower atmosphere will yield LCL heights at or below 750m through the afternoon and evening hours. As we discussed in yesterday afternoon's update, the best chance for rotating updrafts will be over our eastern forecast area. But all of Upstate NY looks primed for severe weather this afternoon, with the main threats being damaging winds, hail, and very heavy downpours. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... A surface high over Wisconsin will slowly slide to the south and east and be over Virginia by Monday. This will keep a northwest flow of cool air over the region in the period. Instability with the upper trough will be enhanced by a couple of weak waves so with heating, clouds and a few sprinkles are possible through the period, especially in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will average about 10 degrees below normal for the end of May. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... No changes to the long term. Period will feature slowly building upper heights and a return to near normal temperatures. Waves passing by will bring the chance for showers, especially Tuesday night into Wednesday. 400 am update... Weather pattern next week starts off on the cool side with a few light rain showers Monday...especially in the afternoon...when the air mass on the back side of a departing cold trough becomes diurnally unstable. Temperatures on Monday will be able to warm into the lower to mid 60s, but dew points will still remain in the 30s and 40s. Precipitation chances are very low, and the eventual result may end up being just some convective cumulus in the afternoon with virga. Another cool night expected Monday night with temps dropping off into the lower to mid 40s. However, a warming trend will begin Tuesday through the middle of the week with highs on Tuesday in the mid 60s to near 70...and temperatures into the mid to upper 70s by Thursday. The overall synoptic pattern will begin to be defined by a broad, and relatively flat upper ridge building across the Upper Midwest into the Northeast on Tuesday. There is some indication of a few embedded short waves riding ewd across this ridge over the Great Lakes through the Northeast, which would generate scattered showers and storms. The timing and location of these waves are quite uncertain, so will continue to carry chance pops from late Tuesday through Thursday. && .AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A line of thunderstorms with heavy downpours, strong winds, and small hail will move across the terminals this afternoon and evening. Although scattered thunderstorms will be over the region from now through the evening hours, the most likely time for strong to severe thunderstorms will be between 19z and 23z. Outside of storms, skies will be scattered to broken with ceilings between 2500 and 4000 feet. MVFR restrictions are likely in thunderstorms. After the cold front moves through this evening, winds will shift to the west at 5 to 10 knots. We are forecasting a broken ceiling around 2500 to 3500 feet overnight with VFR conditions developing in partial clearing after sunrise. Outlook... Saturday afternoon through Tuesday...Mainly VFR. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NY...None. && SYNOPSIS...DJP NEAR TERM...DJP SHORT TERM...DGM LONG TERM...BJT/DGM AVIATION...DJP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Binghamton NY 231 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020 NYZ015>018-022>025-044-301845- Yates-Seneca-Southern Cayuga-Onondaga-Steuben-Schuyler-Chemung- Tompkins-Cortland- 231 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. A few thunderstorms moving across the region this afternoon and evening will produce brief heavy downpours and gusty winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS while following local, state and CDC guidelines. NYZ009-036-037-045-046-055>057-062-PAZ038>040-043-044-047-048-072- 301845- Northern Oneida-Madison-Southern Oneida-Chenango-Otsego-Tioga-Broome- Delaware-Sullivan-Bradford-Susquehanna-Northern Wayne-Wyoming- Lackawanna-Luzerne-Pike-Southern Wayne- 231 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 234 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York and northeast Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS while following local, state and CDC guidelines.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
207 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
NYZ022-291845-
Steuben NY-
207 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN STEUBEN COUNTY UNTIL 245
PM EDT...
At 207 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Hornell, moving northeast at 50 mph.
Small hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hornell, Bath, Urbana, Canisteo, Howard, Pulteney, Wheeler, Wayne,
Avoca and Arkport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Additional statements will be issued as conditions warrant.
&&
LAT...LON 4248 7772 4258 7751 4257 7714 4250 7715
4251 7710 4238 7710 4217 7773 4228 7774
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 235DEG 45KT 4235 7765
ButtsSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
208 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
PAZ043-047-291900-
Wyoming PA-Luzerne PA-
208 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...NORTHWESTERN LUZERNE AND
SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT...
At 208 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Central, or 15 miles northwest of Berwick, moving northeast at 35
mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Vernon, Lehman, Dallas, Harveys Lake, Orange, Noxen, Kasson Brook,
Evans Falls, Beaumont and Sweet Valley.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4130 7631 4143 7626 4159 7601 4137 7583
4122 7632
TIME...MOT...LOC 1808Z 232DEG 31KT 4126 7637
KistnerSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
227 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
NYZ036-037-291900-
Southern Oneida NY-Madison NY-
227 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL ONEIDA AND
SOUTHERN MADISON COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT...
At 226 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Erieville, or 11 miles west of Hamilton, moving east at 30 mph.
Small hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Eaton, Hamilton, Cazenovia, Morrisville, Stockbridge, Augusta,
Nelson, Waterville, Lebanon and Georgetown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Additional statements will be issued as conditions warrant.
&&
LAT...LON 4283 7531 4273 7581 4289 7591 4290 7590
4308 7545
TIME...MOT...LOC 1826Z 247DEG 25KT 4285 7577
ButtsSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
242 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
NYZ045-056-291930-
Chenango NY-Broome NY-
242 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...CENTRAL BROOME AND SOUTHERN
CHENANGO COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT...
At 241 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Chenango Forks, or 10 miles east of Greater Binghamton Airport,
moving northeast at 25 mph.
Small hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Norwich, Guilford, Coventry, Greene, Oxford, Bainbridge, South
Oxford, Rockdale, Brisben and Mt Upton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4239 7540 4237 7540 4236 7539 4235 7540
4233 7540 4217 7584 4232 7590 4260 7548
4252 7540 4247 7540 4241 7537
TIME...MOT...LOC 1841Z 233DEG 23KT 4226 7579
KistnerSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
251 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
NYZ045-056-PAZ039-291930-
Chenango NY-Broome NY-Susquehanna PA-
251 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...SOUTHEASTERN BROOME...
SOUTHEASTERN CHENANGO AND NORTH CENTRAL SUSQUEHANNA COUNTIES UNTIL
330 PM EDT...
At 250 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Brackney, or near Binghamton, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Binghamton, Kirkwood, Conklin, Port Dickinson, Bainbridge, Windsor,
Afton, Harpursville, Brackney and Sanitaria Springs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4192 7592 4204 7601 4218 7583 4232 7542
4217 7542
TIME...MOT...LOC 1850Z 231DEG 32KT 4201 7587
KistnerSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Binghamton NY 259 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020 PAZ038-291930- Bradford PA- 259 PM EDT Fri May 29 2020 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT...SOUTHEASTERN BRADFORD COUNTY UNTIL 330 PM EDT... At 259 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Lincoln Falls, or 12 miles southeast of Canton, moving northeast at 20 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Towanda, West Franklin, Monroe, New Albany, Overton, Burlington, Franklindale, Le Roy, Monroeton and South Branch. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 4159 7677 4183 7656 4165 7628 4156 7648 TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 222DEG 19KT 4157 7665 Kistner
The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 24 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:59 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down trees on Carlin Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down trees on Frost Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree, blocking Walter Road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree on a car and another tree blocking a roadway.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down wires.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree on a house.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree across a road.
Strong thunderstorm winds brought down several trees and snapped poles. The winds also damaged a roof of a school just south of Route 80/13.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New York in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, May 2020
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: 896930, 896932, 896931, 896951, 896954, 896960, 896969, 896978, 896982.