A slow moving upper level low pressure system interacted with a surface frontal boundary to induce torrential rain producing thunderstorms. These storms moved into Northeast Pennsylvania during the afternoon and repeatedly struck the same areas leading to localized flash flooding of roads, ditches and urban areas.
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 slow moving upper level low pressure system interacted with a surface frontal boundary to induce torrential rain producing thunderstorms. These storms moved into Northeast Pennsylvania during the afternoon and repeatedly struck the same areas leading to localized flash flooding of roads, ditches and urban areas.
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 6, 1:18 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
218 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
A slow moving frontal boundary and low pressure system will
slowly lift northeast through Wednesday bringing rounds of
showers and thunderstorms. This will be followed by a cold
frontal passage Thursday that forms a low on the coast, with
another round of rain Thursday night and Friday. A few showers
may linger early Saturday, before high pressure arrives and dry
weather returns for the rest of the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
200 PM Update
***Severe Thunderstorm Watch Has Been Issued for portions of
Central NY and all of NE PA. A Flood Watch is also in effect
for a large portion of the area***
**Upgraded to a Slight Risk for Severe Storms and Flash Flooding this
afternoon and evening across much of the forecast area.**
An upper level low is sliding east from the upper Ohio Valley
early this afternoon. Out ahead of this low a deep plume of
moisture and instability will rotate into the area from the
south/southeast this afternoon and evening. MLCAPE is now
reaching 500-1000 J/kg as breaks of sun occur, steepening low
level lapse rates and increasing the destabilzation. Deep layer
shear vectors show close to 50 kts in the 0-6km layer this
afternoon and evening, with even some low level shear of 15-20
kts and a strong backing to the low level winds below 1 km agl.
PWATs are a bit lower today, around 1", but the convective
component to the rainfall, along with very wet antecedent
conditions and high stream flows increased confidence for a
flood watch to be issued across the region. Some of the heaviest
rainfall is expected across the Central Southern Tier and
Finger Lakes region as the thunderstorms pivot and transition to
steady/heavy rain overnight under the 700mb low center. Expect
a general 0.50 to 1.50 inches of rain across the CWA by Wednesday
afternoon, with localized amounts of 2-3+ inches possible where
heavier thunderstorms develop, and train over the same locations.
The severe threat transitions to an area of moderate to locally
heavy rain by late evening, with periods of rain persisting
longest across the northern Finger Lakes, Syracuse Metro and
Oneida county as a stack mid level and surface low remain in
place near Lake Ontario. A dry slot should move into NE PA by
late evening, then the Twin Tiers and Catskills after midnight.
There will be some patchy fog and mainly cloudy skies for the
areas not seeing additional rain overnight, with lows in the
upper 40s to lower 50s.
The stacked low remains in place Wednesday morning, before
drifting northeast toward Vermont and New England. Steady rain
in the morning will be across the northern half of the forecast
area, with mainly dry conditions from the NY southern tier down
into NE PA. By afternoon the steady rain should break up into
scattered showers across north-central NY, with isolated showers
further south across NE PA/Twin Tiers. It will be mainly cloudy
with light westerly winds and cool, with highs in the 60s to low
70s south.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
1215 PM Update...
A positively tilted trough will dig as it swings through the
Great Lakes on Thursday. Ahead of it, some showers and
thunderstorms will be possible as weaker waves ride the leading
edge of the trough. Model guidance are showing fairly weak
instability and shear across NEPA and the Catskills, though
there would be enough of both to support isolated strong
thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. The upper trough will continue
to dig Thursday night and as it does, a stacked low pressure
system begins to develop. While there does remain some
uncertainty on exact track and timing, most guidance favor the
low's center swinging around the region just to the south and
then hugging the coast tightly as it moves north Friday into
Friday night. While PWATs are not expected to be anomaly high,
conditions will likely remain saturated leading up to the end
of the week. Any excessive amounts of localized rainfall could
lead to additional hydro issues. Isolated thunderstorms cannot
be ruled out late Friday, but instability is quite limited.
Temperatures will remain cooler than normal as highs will generally
be in the 50s and low 60s. Portions of the Finger Lakes may struggle
to reach the 50s on Thursday. Overnight temperatures will fall into
the 30s and 40s.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
1215 PM Update...
The previous forecast discussion remains valid as little has
changed with the forecast. Looking ahead to Tuesday, the warm
and dry conditions will continue, though some showers ahead of
the next system may be possible late in the day.
Previous Discussion...
Some lingering showers may remain across the area Saturday,
depending on how fast the aforementioned surface low moves off
to the NE.
Confidence is increasing that a quick Rex block will form this
weekend, bringing strong high pressure into the region as a deep
cutoff low spins over the southern Mississippi Valley. This
brings a much needed period of calm, dry weather. Temperatures
will be on a warming trend, with highs in the 60s Saturday and
Sunday, climbing into the 70s on Monday.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Brief VFR conditions over the next 1-3 hours, followed by shower
and thunderstorm development from south to north across the
area. Used TEMPO groups for the potential to see IFR or lower
heavy thunderstorms, especially at ELM, BGM, AVP and ITH between
19z to 24z...and a little later between 20z-01z at SYR and RME.
Winds could also be strong and gusty near any thunderstorms, up
to 35 kts or locally higher gusts. Hail is also possible in the
core of any strong to severe thunderstorm.
Additional MVFR to MVFR fuel alt ceilings build back in tonight
with lingering periods of rain for most NY TAF sites. AVP
becomes VFR after around 00z and should remain so for most of
the rest of the period. IFR CIGs return to SYR and RME Wednesday
morning with more rain and MVFR VSBY restrictions.
Outlook...
Wednesday afternoon and Thursday...Scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms will still be around with Restrictions
possible. Confidence moderate to high.
Friday...Rain showers likely with additional restrictions
possible. Confidence moderate.
Saturday...A chance for lingering rain showers, and occasional
restrictions. Could clear out and become VFR later in the day.
Confidence low.
Sunday...VFR expected under high pressure.
&&
.BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...Flood Watch through Wednesday afternoon for PAZ038-039.
Flood Watch through late tonight for PAZ040.
NY...Flood Watch through Wednesday afternoon for NYZ015>018-022>025-
036-044-045-055-056.
Flood Watch through late tonight for NYZ046-057-062.
&&
SYNOPSIS...MJM
NEAR TERM...MJM
SHORT TERM...BTL
LONG TERM...BTL/JTC
AVIATION...MJMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Binghamton NY 109 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025 NYZ046-057-062-PAZ040-071715- Otsego-Delaware-Sullivan-Northern Wayne- 109 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 233 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... 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. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS. NYZ023>025-044-045-055-056-PAZ038-039-071715- Schuyler-Chemung-Tompkins-Cortland-Chenango-Tioga-Broome-Bradford- Susquehanna- 109 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 233 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON... 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. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS. NYZ015>018-022-036-071715- Yates-Seneca-Southern Cayuga-Onondaga-Steuben-Madison- 109 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York. .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. Flood Watch. There is also the potential for isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. These storms could produce localized damaging winds and hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS. NYZ009-037-071715- Northern Oneida-Southern Oneida- 109 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is potential for isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. These storms could produce localized damaging winds, hail and torrential downpours. Isolated flash flooding from excessive rainfall is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS. PAZ043-044-047-048-072-071715- Wyoming-Lackawanna-Luzerne-Pike-Southern Wayne- 109 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 233 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for 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. There is also the potential for storms to produce locally heavy rainfall, with isolated flash flooding from excessive rain this afternoon and evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any information about severe weather to the NWS. MJM
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
257 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0252 PM Hail Litchfield 41.97N 76.43W
05/06/2025 M0.25 Inch Bradford PA Trained Spotter
&&
MJMThe Binghamton radar (KBGM), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:18 UTC.
3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Significant road flooding occurred at Litchfield Road and Blackberry Lane, involving clogged pipes.
High water was washing over the Lee Road and Park Hollow Road intersection.
A vehicle was stranded in water in Honesdale Borough, prompting a rescue call as per 911 county dispatch.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, May 2025
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: 1265601, 1265605, 1265606.