Flood — Essex, New York

2023-12-18 · near Keene Marcy Arpt, Essex, New York

Event narrative

Significant headwater flooding across roads, streams within the AuSable basin. The AuSable River at AuSable Forks recorded it's 8th highest crest of record.

Wider weather episode

A very deep trough across the eastern seaboard allowed a deep, mild, moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean to feed into the northeast United States, including VT and NY on December 17th and 18th.

Surface low pressure across Florida on December 17th moved north along the eastern seaboard into New England on December 18th. Mild, moist air delivered 1.5 to 3+ inches of rainfall to northeast NY along with temperatures in the 40s that promoted snowmelt of approximately 1-1.5 inches. Widespread saturated soil inundation flooding such as flooded fields, yards, spilling (flowing) into basements, low-lying roads and streams, eventually into small rivers and eventually into the AuSable River basin.

Much of the flooding was local watersheds and poor drainage but moderate to major flooding was observed in/around the AiuSable River.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.2150, -73.7856)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1148133. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.