In the wake of a passing cold front, strong winds affected the region during the late evening hours on Thursday, February 17 to the morning hours on Friday, February 18, 2022 with gusts 40 to 55 mph observed. A peak wind gust of 53 mph was recorded at the Harriman-and-West Airport shortly after 1 am early Friday morning.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
In the wake of a passing cold front, strong winds affected the region during the late evening hours on Thursday, February 17 to the morning hours on Friday, February 18, 2022 with gusts 40 to 55 mph observed. A peak wind gust of 53 mph was recorded at the Harriman-and-West Airport shortly after 1 am early Friday morning.
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 Feb 17, 8:29 PM EST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Albany NY
829 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022
.SYNOPSIS...
A wave of low pressure will track along a cold front as it
crosses the area tonight, bringing a widespread rain and gusty
winds to the entire region. The combination of snowmelt, frozen
ground and the rainfall will lead to runoff into rivers and
streams into Friday and may result in flooding. Flooding of low
lying and poor drainage areas is also possible. The rain will
change to a brief wintry mix then snow before ending Friday
morning, especially across the hill towns. Drier and blustery
conditions return for Friday afternoon with steadily falling
temperatures. A fast moving low pressure system may bring some
snow on Saturday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
The Flood Watch remains in effect for the southern Adirondacks,
Mohawk Valley, Schoharie Valley, eastern Catskills, Capital
District, Lake George Saratoga Region, and southern Vermont.
A Wind Advisory will go into effect at 10 pm for the Mohawk and
Schoharie Valleys, eastern Catskills, greater Capital District,
Saratoga region, mid Hudson Valley and Taconics of eastern New
York, southern Vermont, northwestern Connecticut.
A Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect at midnight for
northern Herkimer and Hamilton Counties.
With the mild airmass across the region fog has developed
in areas where there is deeper snowpack so have added patchy fog
to forecast for the northern third of the forecast area.
The cold front will slowly move southeast across the region
tonight as a wave of low pressure moves northeastward along the
boundary slowing its progress. The low is centered over
southern Ohio and the boundary extends across western New York
and the Tug Hill PLateau. A widespread rainfall has overspread
almost the entire forecast area early this evening. The rainfall
will be modulated by terrain influences due to the strong wind
field, with the greatest rainfall across the western/southern
Adirondacks. Shadowing will occur in the Capital District with
the strong south to southwest flow at mountain level.
The combination of warm temperatures, wind, snowmelt and frozen
ground will result in runoff, leading to moderate river rises
and possible ice break up with the potential for ice jams to
develop in typically susceptible locations. Ice is estimated to
be fairly thick over the higher terrain of the Catskills and
southern Vermont(~10-12 inches) in addition to areas farther
north such as the Mohawk River and its tributaries and the
southern Adirondacks. See Hydro section for details on flooding
potential.
The low level inversion weakens as we go through the night so there
is a concern for strong winds with the increasing southerly flow
aloft. There is also a period of briefly higher mixing heights
associated with the cold front passage towards early Friday
morning. Also, latest model guidance has some weak instability
just head of the front so winds could be mixed down by some
convective showers. We have continued the Wind Advisory for most
of the region (except for the Adirondacks/Lake George area)
from late this evening into Friday morning. Wind speeds aloft
are forecast to weaken rapidly behind the cold front, so strong
winds are not expected to persist through Friday. Expecting wind
gusts as high at 45 to 55 mph.
A brief wintry mix is expected to occur in northern and western
parts of the forecast area late tonight as the front is slowed
as the wave moves through. Forecast soundings from the NAM
indicate surface and low level temperatures falling rapidly with
a slight lag in cooling aloft. The highest potential for a
period of sleet and/or freezing rain early Friday morning is
over the southern Adirondacks. We have continued the Winter
Weather Advisory for this area. Elsewhere, mainly a brief period
of sleet/snow expected, as more uniform cooling is expected
although a trace of freezing rain or drizzle is possible. Any
snow/sleet accumulations look to be minor except over northern
Herkimer and far northwestern Hamilton Counties where a few
inches of snow are possible.
&&
.SHORT TERM /7 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
The Flood Watch remains in effect for the southern Adirondacks,
Mohawk Valley, Schoharie Valley, eastern Catskills, Capital
District, Lake George Saratoga Region, and southern Vermont
through the day.
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 9 am Friday for the Mohawk
and Schoharie Valleys, eastern Catskills, greater Capital
District, Saratoga region, mid Hudson Valley and Taconics of
eastern New York, southern Vermont, northwestern Connecticut.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 9 am Friday for
northern Herkimer and Hamilton Counties.
Temperatures will steadily fall on Friday, with strong cold
advection occurring in wake of the cold front passage. Highs
will occur before 10AM over most of the area, with falling
temperatures thereafter. Any untreated previously wet surfaces
could freeze up fairly quickly with icy conditions possible as
temperatures drop below freezing from NW to SE by Friday
morning(from Albany north) or afternoon (south of Albany).
Northwest winds will be gusty (25-35 mph), but likely falling
short of Advisory criteria as wind speeds aloft decrease during
the day.
Mainly dry conditions with much colder temperatures are forecast
Friday night. Lows should range from the single digits in the
Adirondacks and southern Greens to 10s elsewhere. Winds will
decrease further as a surface ridge moves eastward across the
area. A clipper-type system approaching from the Great Lakes may
bring light snow to the Adirondacks and western Mohawk Valley
just prior to sunrise Saturday, but the rest of the area will
remain dry during this time.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Changeable and active pattern conditions through the long term,
starting with compact shortwave tracking north of the region
Saturday. A surge of mid level warm advection ahead of this feature
may bring a period of steady light snow to portions of the SW
Adirondacks and upper Hudson Valley Saturday morning. Then, a cold
front will sweep eastward across the region during the late morning
and afternoon hours. Strong low level forcing and a shallow layer of
instability may provide a favorable environment for a line of snow
showers/possible snow squalls along the front, including forecast
model soundings depicting a well-mixed boundary layer with steep
lapse rates and theta e decreasing with height in the boundary
layer, combined with pressure rises of ~6 mb in 3 hrs behind the
front. Hopefully, confidence will increase and the finer-scale
details will come into focus over the coming days. High temps may
reach the mid 30s in lower elevations, and mid 20s to lower 30s
across higher elevations, with the potential for falling temps in
the wake of the front during the afternoon hours.
Strong wind gusts and some Lake Effect snow showers will remain
possible through Saturday evening, with the possibility of some
gusts of at least 35-45 mph, especially within the Mohawk
Valley/Capital Region and Berkshires. Lows by daybreak Sunday
ranging from zero to 5 below across the southern Adirondacks, to the
single digits and teens elsewhere. Winds should decrease later at
night, so wind chills may not drop much below 10 below across the
southern Adirondacks.
High pressure brings a reprieve from the active weather for Sunday-
Monday. Seasonable temps are expected Sunday (highs mainly in the 30s
for lower elevations, and uper 20s/lower 30s higher terrain, and
lows in the 20s), trending to above normal by Monday (highs in the
40s and 50s).
A frontal boundary then may approach from the north late Monday into
Tuesday, while a southern stream disturbance approaches from the
southwest. This should bring increasing chances for precipitation
Monday night into Tuesday night. Current guidance suggests low level
thermal profile mainly above freezing, with mainly rain as P-type,
however will have to watch trends in case shallow, cold air mass to
the north extends farther south than currently indicated. Lows
Monday night in the 20s and 30s, with the potential for rising temps
late at night. Highs Tuesday mainly in the 40s, although some 50s
could occur in southeast areas. Of course, some 30s may occur in
northern areas should aforementioned shallow colder air seep
southward.
There could be another break in the active weather Wednesday-
Thursday, although will have to watch for additional southern stream
disturbances which, if they track slightly farther north, could
bring additional precipitation chances by Thursday or Thursday
night. It may be mild initially Wednesday, before colder air advects
back into the region late in the day through Thursday, with early
max temps Wed potentially in the 40s and 50s, then cooling off into
the teens and 20s by daybreak Thursday, with single digits possible
across the southern Adirondacks.
&&
.AVIATION /01Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
A cold front will approach from the northwest tonight, as a
strengthening wave of low pressure tracks along it. The low will
pass north of the region late tonight, as the cold front crosses
the region around daybreak Friday.
Steady light to moderate rain will continue to overspread the
TAF sites this evening, and will continue overnight, with a few
periods of heavy rain possible. Rain will be most persistent at
KGFL and KALB. Flight conditions will slowly fall from VFR to
MVFR as the rain develops, with mainly MVFR to IFR conditions
expected by 05Z/Fri and continuing through around 11Z/Fri.
However, areas of fog may produce occasional LIFR/VLIFR
conditions at KGFL overnight.
As the cold front tracks through, a line of heavy rain showers
will be possible, along with strong wind gusts. Precipitation
may change to snow, or a mix of snows/sleet at KGFL and KALB
between roughly 11Z-13Z/Fri, before ending. At KPSF, a period of
snow may linger as late as 14Z/Fri. Periods of MVFR/IFR may
occur until around 15Z/Fri at KGFL, KALB and KPSF before
improving to VFR, with VFR then prevailing at all TAF sites for
Friday afternoon.
South winds will increase this evening, to 8-15 KT, with gusts
of 20-30 KT possible after midnight, especially at KPSF and
KPOU. Winds will then shift into the west/northwest as the front
passes between 10Z-12Z/Fri, with the possibility of some gusts
reaching 40 KT or higher. However, closer to the actual low
pressure track, winds may briefly become north to northeast at
KGFL during this time at 20-30 KT, before becoming west to
northwest.
Behind the front, west to northwest winds will average 10-18 KT,
with gusts of 25-30 KT likely, before decreasing to 8-12 KT and
gusts of 15-25 KT after 20Z/Fri.
Low level wind shear is likely at all TAF sites until the cold
front passes, as winds around 2000 FT AGL remain from the south
to southwest and increase to 40-55 KT overnight.
Outlook...
Friday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Saturday: Moderate Operational Impact. Windy With Gusts To 33 kts. Scattered SHSN...SN.
Saturday Night: Low Operational Impact. Breezy. Isolated SHSN.
Sunday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Sunday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Washingtons Birthday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.
Monday Night: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA...SHSN.
Tuesday: High Operational Impact. Definite SHRA...SHSN.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
The Flood Watch remains in effect for the southern Adirondacks,
Mohawk Valley, Schoharie Valley, eastern Catskills, Capital
District, Lake George Saratoga Region, and southern Vermont
through the day Friday.
Temperatures will remain above freezing in most areas through
much of tonight. With temperatures above freezing, some snow
will begin to melt across the region. Warmest temperatures will
occur this evening which is when the greatest snowmelt will
occur.
A wave of low pressure will track along a cold front as it
crosses the area tonight, bringing a widespread rain and gusty
winds to the entire region. The combination of snowmelt, frozen
ground and rainfall will allow for runoff, leading to rises on
rivers and streams with crests on Friday with larger rivers at
night. Current river forecasts indicate the best potential for
flooding to be along the Hoosic and Mettawee Rivers with
moderate flooding possible at Granville on the Mettawee.
The rises may result in some ice breakup and movement on rivers
and streams. Ice jams may form, allowing for localized flooding
from this evening into Friday. Many streams with significant
ice cover in the watch area could see ice movement and possible
ice jam flooding.
Behind the cold front passage early Friday morning, seasonable
conditions with colder temperatures will return later Friday
into the weekend. This will allow for runoff to slow down as
temperatures drop below freezing by Friday night and river
levels should start to recede. However, if any ice jams freeze
in place then issues may still continue locally.
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.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Near-record warmth Thursday...
Record high temperatures for February 17th...
Albany: 60 degrees 1981
(High so far today 55 degrees)
Glens Falls: 55 degrees 1981
(High so far today 50 degrees)
Poughkeepsie: 60 degrees 1981
(High so far today 60 degrees)
Record high minimum temperatures for February 17th...
Albany: 36 degrees in 1984
(Low so far today 41 degrees)
Glens Falls: 35 degrees in 1984
(Low so far today 37 degrees)
Poughkeepsie: 39 degrees in 1984
(Low so far today 29 degrees)
&&
.ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...Wind Advisory until 9 AM EST Friday for CTZ001-013.
NY...Flood Watch through Friday evening for NYZ032-033-038>043-
047>054-058-063-082>084.
Wind Advisory until 9 AM EST Friday for NYZ038>041-047>054-
058>061-063>066-084.
Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM EST
Friday for NYZ032-033.
MA...Wind Advisory until 9 AM EST Friday for MAZ001-025.
VT...Flood Watch through Friday evening for VTZ013>015.
Wind Advisory until 9 AM EST Friday for VTZ013>015.
&&
SYNOPSIS...IAA/SND/JPV
NEAR TERM...IAA/SND/JPV
SHORT TERM...SND/JPV
LONG TERM...KL
AVIATION...KL
HYDROLOGY...IAA/SND/JPV
CLIMATE...WFO StaffHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albany NY 330 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 NYZ042-043-082-083-181200- Northern Warren-Northern Washington-Northern Fulton-Southeast Warren- 330 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Lake George region and northern Fulton County in eastern 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. 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. Snow squalls will be possible accompanying a strong cold front on Saturday. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to relay rainfall amounts and flooding to the National Weather Service in Albany New York. NYZ032-033-181200- Northern Herkimer-Hamilton- 330 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EST FRIDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Hamilton and northern Herkimer Counties of eastern 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. Flood Watch. Winter Weather Advisory. .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. Flood Watch. Winter Weather Advisory. Snow squalls will be possible accompanying a strong cold front on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report winter precipitation amounts, rainfall amounts and flooding to the National Weather Service in Albany New York. CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ059>061-064>066-181200- Northern Litchfield-Southern Litchfield-Northern Berkshire- Southern Berkshire-Eastern Greene-Western Columbia-Eastern Columbia- Eastern Ulster-Western Dutchess-Eastern Dutchess- 330 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM EST FRIDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts and the mid Hudson Valley and the southern Taconics of eastern 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. Wind Advisory. .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. Wind Advisory. Snow squalls will be possible accompanying a strong cold front on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to wind damage reports to the National Weather Service in Albany New York. NYZ038>041-047>054-058-063-084-VTZ013>015-181200- Southern Herkimer-Southern Fulton-Montgomery-Northern Saratoga- Schoharie-Western Schenectady-Eastern Schenectady-Southern Saratoga- Western Albany-Eastern Albany-Western Rensselaer-Eastern Rensselaer- Western Greene-Western Ulster-Southern Washington-Bennington- Western Windham-Eastern Windham- 330 PM EST Thu Feb 17 2022 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM EST FRIDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Mohawk Valley, Capital and Saratoga Region, Schoharie County, Helderbergs and eastern Catskills of eastern New York, and for southern Vermont. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Wind Advisory. .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. Flood Watch. Wind Advisory. Snow squalls will be possible accompanying a strong cold front on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to relay rainfall amounts, flooding, and wind damage reports to the National Weather Service in Albany New York.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
742 PM EST THU FEB 17 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM HEAVY RAIN INLET 43.75N 74.79W
02/17/2022 M1.00 INCH HAMILTON NY TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY2201366
KLThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, February 2022
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: 1006173, 1006174.