AUGUST 9

8^TH-9^TH… A cold front accompanied by thunderstorms with high winds and frequent lightning crossed western New York on the 8th. Lightning knocked out the Weather Service Radar shortly after 8pm. Another strike 20 minutes later interrupted the continuous broadcasts on NOAA Weather Radio. Lightning also struck the antenna of the communication system in the town of Lancaster. Village police took over town police calls and the Cheektowaga fire alarm office handled firecalls for the town. Power losses were also reported to about 1000 customers in the Maryvale section of Cheektowaga. There were scattered power failures in Wilson and Olcott in Niagara county; in Orleans, Genesee, and Chautauqua counties; and in Erie county from Hamburg to Eden.

2000

Numerous thunderstorms crossed the western southern tier and Genesee valley during the evening hours. The thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines. Thousands were without electricity. Damage from thunderstorm winds was reported in Nunda, Dansville, Randolph, Sherman, Ischua, Angelica, Springville and Ashford. The torrential rains accompanying the thunderstorms, coming just a few days after earlier heavy rains, resulted in flash flooding...especially in Allegany county. Hardest hit was Centerville, Hume, Granger and Caneadea. Several towns in the western southern tier declared States of Emergency. Damage to roads was extensive. In Allegany county, Routes 23, 27, 36 and 3 were closed for days.

2001

A severe thunderstorm crossed Oswego county during the early afternoon hours. The thunderstorm winds downed trees in Hannibal, Volney and Hastings.

2003

Strong thunderstorms developed in a very moist atmosphere, dropping three to five inches of rain in a short amount of time onto already saturated ground. The heavy rains produced flash flooding over parts of the southern tier and Finger Lakes . In Livingston county, the Towns of Nunda and Sparta were hardest hit. A reservoir line, which provides water to Nunda's water treatment plant, was damaged. An earthen dam on the 50-million-gallon drinking water reservoir was damaged. Families living below the dam were evacuated as a precaution. Many miles of roads and road shoulders were damaged, along with several bridges and culverts. In Cattaraugus county, the town of Ischua sustained additional flood damage. Sections of Route 16 were washed out between Five Mile Road and Maplehurst Road . A resident living next to Ischua Creek said the water rose eight to ten feet in two hours between 7:00 and 9:00 PM . In Allegany county, also hard hit by previous flash flood events, the towns of Friendship, Angelica and Richburg were hardest hit. Route 275 was closed as three bridges were damaged. County Route 34 was also closed due to a bridge collapse. A woman had to be rescued by the Richburg Fire Department. The 35-year-old female tried to rescue her animals and was caught up in swift moving water and washed 300 yards downstream. The woman clung to a tree before being rescued. The three counties, Cattaraugus, Livingston, and Allegany, were later declared State and Federal Disaster areas.