Thunderstorm Wind in Monroe County, New York

Tree down on wires in North Chili.

On March 16, a strong area of low pressure tracked across the Central Great Lakes into southeast Ontario and southwest Quebec. The warm front associated with the system tracked north across the western New York area during the morning hours and an associated low level jet increased winds out of the south, especially for downslope areas near Lake Erie. This resulted in non thunderstorm winds that caused damage across much of Chautauqua County prior to the arrival of severe thunderstorms during the early afternoon. Wind Advisories or Warnings were in effect for all of the western and north central New York counties due to the potential for gusty winds. Convection developed across Ontario and Pennsylvania during the late morning hours along a pre-frontal trough associated with the system. As the pre-frontal trough and early convection tracked into and then across the western New York area, conditions were favorable for strong to severe thunderstorms to develop. Severe thunderstorms caused damage across much of the Buffalo forecast area, mainly inland from Lake Erie and extending to the North Country.

In addition to the damage noted above across Chautauqua County, a measured wind gust of 66 MPH occurred at the Dunkirk Airport during the morning of March 16.