Flooding
Heavy Rainfall - Snowmelt - Ice Jams
March 11-13, 2011

Another bout of heavy rainfall occurred across the area Thursday, March 10th, into Friday, March 11th. Generally 1 to 3 inches fell with locally higher amounts of 4 to 5 1/2 inches reported across portions of the eastern Catskills. In addition, mild temperatures resulted in snowmelt. The combination of the heavy rainfall, and runoff from the snowmelt caused flooding of rivers, streams, creeks, roads, and some urban low lying areas. Moderate flooding occurred along the Esopus and Schoharie Creeks.

An ice jam formed on the Mohawk River which resulted in flooding along the river in parts of Albany, Saratoga and Schenectady counties. The combination of increased flow from the upper Mohawk Basin and out of the Schoharie Creek due to runoff from the heavy rainfall and snowmelt caused ice to move. On Friday, March 11th, an ice jam in place in Schenectady County at Lock 9 and Lock 8 broke up and moved downstream. Another ice jam formed and extended from the Twin Bridges back towards Lock 7 in Niskayuna and caused flooding of some properties and houses along the river. The ice jam broke up and moved down river without any additional flooding on Sunday, March 13th.