New York, 2026

Damaging Winds in New York, May 9, 2026

May 9, 2026 · NWS BUF · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

A line of storms crossed over the Eastern Great Lakes and moved into the Niagara Frontier to Genesee Valley producing sporadic reports of damaging winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS BUF wrote it up.

A line of storms crossed over the Eastern Great Lakes and moved into the Niagara Frontier to Genesee Valley producing sporadic reports of damaging winds.

What forecasters said that day

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 Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 9, 12:56 PM EST, 4 hours 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Showers return this afternoon and evening with a few storms that may be capable of producing gusty winds and hail. 2) Cool but relatively dry weather Sunday through Tuesday with frost potential Sunday and Monday night. 3) Unsettled weather returns by the middle of next week with periods of rain Wednesday through Thursday.
Area forecast discussion, May 9, 12:56 PM EST, 4 hours 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
156 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Marginal Risk for Severe Weather expanded eastward into the Finger
Lakes.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Showers return this afternoon and evening with a few storms that
may be capable of producing gusty winds and hail.

2) Cool but relatively dry weather Sunday through Tuesday with frost
potential Sunday and Monday night.

3) Unsettled weather returns by the middle of next week with periods
of rain Wednesday through Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Showers return this afternoon and evening with a few
storms that may be capable of producing gusty winds and hail.

A surface low centered over the UP, will continue to progress
northeast into Ontario this afternoon, dragging its attendant cold
front across Michigan and eventually into New York State tonight.
Ahead of the cold front, there is a line of showers and embedded
thunderstorms currently crossing Michigan State, where this line of
activity will spread across New York State this afternoon.

While it has taken most of the morning to begin to clear out across
western New York, from the initial passing shortwave trough and low
clouds cover, the few hours of clear skies during peak diurnal
heating will allow for mid-level lapse rates to steepen enough to
support a fair amount of instability (SBCAPE values of around 500
J/kg). This combined with around 30 knots of bulk shear should
support any strong storms to become severe, and produce gusty winds
and some hail. As this line of storms enters the Finger Lakes region
and encounters a less favorable environment, due to the limited time
of sunshine today from the abundance of cloud cover the line of
storms will quickly weaken. This all being said, SPC has expanded
the Marginal Risk for Severe Weather eastward into the Finger Lakes.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Cool but relatively dry weather Sunday through
Tuesday with frost potential Monday night.

A longwave troughing pattern will remain overhead across the Great
Lakes and into New England Sunday through Tuesday supporting a cool
airmass to linger across the region, resulting in daily high
temperatures to average around 10 degrees below average through the
start of the week. Clear skies and light winds each night (Sunday
and Monday) will support radiational cooling and result in
temperatures to plummet into the 30s supporting the threat for frost
and freeze conditions. Frost will likely form away from the
lakeshores, with freeze conditions possible in the colder Southern
Tier valleys and across Lewis County. Please note the remainder of
the forecast area enters their growing seasons on May 11th.

KEY MESSAGE 3...Unsettled weather returns by the middle of next week
with periods of rain Wednesday through Thursday.

A potent shortwave trough will dive and rotate through the longwave
trough by Wednesday, likely evolving into a mid-level closed low
settling in across the Great Lakes by the middle of the week. This
being said, chances for rain will increase from west to east late
Tuesday night through Wednesday as this system nears. Chances for
precipitation will continue into the end of the week as the trough
and closed low slowly departs east.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Quiet conditions begin the 18Z TAF period, but a cold front with
storms upon it will be bearing down on our region.

Instability is marginal, though will include thunder within a PROB30
for a 3 to 4 hour period for the western 4 TAF sites as several
broken line segments of convection are expected to reach far WNY
around 23Z, and propagate eastward. Flight conditions are expected
to lower to IFR/MVFR in heavier convection. A later arrival and
limited instability, will likely taper off any thunder by time the
line of convection reaches KART.

Any thunderstorm may bring locally higher wind gusts to the
airfields this evening.

Behind the line of storms, and with a shortwave passage, light
showers, generally with VFR visibilities, but MVFR ceiling heights
will pass across our region through the mid-overnight hours. All
together these showers will exit east of KART by 12Z.

Behind the cold front winds will veer to west to northwest late
tonight...though within a light surface pressure gradient field lake
breeze circulations will develop late in the period with SW winds
northeast of the Lakes.

By the final hours of the TAF cycle a fairly substantial amount of
cumulus clouds are expected to be bubbling up...with skies SCT -
BKN...but VFR.

Outlook...

Sunday afternoon through Tuesday...Mainly VFR.

Wednesday...MVFR/IFR with showers and a few thunderstorms.

Thursday...IFR/MVFR improving to MVFR/VFR with showers ending
through the day.

&&

.MARINE...
South to southwest flow will continue to strengthen this afternoon
ahead of an approaching cold front, resulting in choppy conditions
on the lakes this evening. Additionally, with the passing of the
cold front, expect a line of showers with embedded thunderstorms to
start to cross the lakes at 21Z into the evening hours. The cold
front will work from west to east tonight supporting continued
choppy conditions through Sunday, with potential for low end small
craft advisory levels on the east end of Lake Ontario Sunday
afternoon.

&&

.BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NY...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...EAJ
AVIATION...Thomas
MARINE...EAJ
Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 4:44 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
544 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

NYZ005>008-102145-
Northern Cayuga-Oswego-Jefferson-Lewis-
544 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central New York.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and
statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo
can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf

LEZ040-041-102145-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Ripley to Dunkirk-
Lake Erie nearshore waters from Dunkirk to Buffalo-
544 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 195 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Lake Erie.

.DAY ONE...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...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and
statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo
can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf

LOZ030-043>045-063>065-SLZ022-024-102145-
Lower Niagara River-
Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay-
Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay-
Lake Ontario nearshore waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence
River-Lake Ontario open waters from Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay-
Lake Ontario open waters from Sodus Bay to Mexico Bay-
Lake Ontario open waters from Mexico Bay to the Saint Lawrence River-
Saint Lawrence River from Cape Vincent to Ogdensburg-
Saint Lawrence River from Ogdensburg to Saint Regis-
544 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Lake Ontario and
Saint Lawrence River.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and
statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo
can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf

LEZ020-LOZ042-062-102145-
Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor-
Lake Ontario nearshore waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach-
Lake Ontario open waters from the Niagara River to Hamlin Beach-
544 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 195 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Lake Erie and Lake
Ontario.

.DAY ONE...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...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and
statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo
can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf

NYZ004-014-021-102145-
Wayne-Ontario-Allegany-
544 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western New York.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and
statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo
can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf

NYZ001>003-010>013-019-020-085-102145-
Niagara-Orleans-Monroe-Northern Erie-Genesee-Wyoming-Livingston-
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus-Southern Erie-
544 PM EDT Sat May 9 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 195 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western 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.

   Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

This product, along with other watches, warnings, advisories, and
statements issued by the National Weather Service office in Buffalo
can be found on the internet at http://www.weather.gov/buf

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Niagara

When
May 9, 5:50 PM EST
Where
Niagara County, 0.5 mi E of Newfane
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.280, -78.710

Trees downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When
May 9, 6:25 PM EST
Where
Genesee County, Oakfield
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
43.070, -78.270

Tree downed on Fisher Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orleans

When
May 9, 6:29 PM EST
Where
Orleans County, 0.85 mi SW of Medina
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
43.220, -78.390

Tree was downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When
May 9, 6:35 PM EST
Where
Genesee County, Batavia
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
43.000, -78.180

Several reports of trees and wires down in Batavia.

Thunderstorm Wind, Genesee

When
May 9, 6:55 PM EST
Where
Genesee County, 0.5 mi E of Byron
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
43.080, -78.060

Trees and wires downed in Byron.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
May 9, 7:25 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, 1.01 mi W of Honeoye Falls Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
42.950, -77.620

Tree was downed.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, May 2026

Sources

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: 1342798, 1342800, 1342801, 1342802, 1342803, 1342804.