Heat — Southern Fulton, New York

2024-06-20 · Southern Fulton, New York

Wider weather episode

The third of a multi-day stretch of hot and humid conditions continued on June 20, 2024 across much of eastern New York outside of the Adirondacks and eastern Catskills. Heat index (or feels like temperatures) reached between 95 and 104 degrees across the region. In anticipation of dangerous conditions, several school districts made the decision to move elementary and middle school students to a half day schedule on Thursday June 20, 2024 including East Greenbush, Bethlehem, Lansingburgh, North Colonie, Stillwater, Voorheesville, and Schenectady. Additionally, the governor of NY activated the Natonal Guard and the state Emergency Operations Center to aid in any emergencies that arose related to the heat.

A strong upper-level ridge began to sink south through eastern New York on Thursday, June 20, giving way to a surface trough tracking north to south. Several upper-level shortwave disturbances within the flow aloft worked in tandem with this surface feature to contribute forcing for ascent in an environment abundant with instability due to antecedent, higher-than-normal heat and humidity. The result was scattered showers and thunderstorms, some of which became severe in nature in the counties of Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Albany, Rensselaer, and Columbia.

Severe thunderstorms resulted in numerous reports of tree and wire damage across the aforementioned areas in addition to nearly 48,000 people without power. The area greatest impacted was the city of Albany where the results of a storm survey concluded the occurrence of straight line winds with maximized speed of 75 mph. Here, substantial tree damage was sustained in Washington Park where numerous, hardwood tree branches fell and some trees were even uprooted. Additionally, isolated structural damage was also noted as a result of severe thunderstorms in the city of Albany. The Ten Broeck Mansion sustained significant tree damage, a steeple was partially blown off of St. Joseph's Church in the Ten Broeck Triangle Neighborhood, and a building on Thatcher Street partially collapsed resulting in its scheduled demolition (though it was not anticipated to be a total loss).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1188297. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.