Ice Storm — Eastern Schenectady, New York

2008-12-11 to 2008-12-12 · Eastern Schenectady, New York

Event narrative

Significant ice accretion from freezing rain of 0.50 to 1.0 inch led to widespread downed trees, tree limbs and power lines. Hardest hit areas included Niskayuna and Schenectady.

In addition, a couple died in their home in Glenville as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator being used in their attached garage. A female, age 61, was found dead in her bedroom, and the male, age 65, was passed out in the living room and then pronounced dead when brought to the hospital. The gas powered generator was being used in the attached garage due to power loss from the ice storm, when exhaust fumes then permeated into the home.

In addition, a structure was destroyed by fire in Schenectady, sparked by a downed electrical line from the ice storm. The structure, a market, was leveled after fire consumed the structure.

Wider weather episode

A cold front moved across eastern New York and western New England on Wednesday, December 10th, ushering a cold airmass into the region. A low pressure system developed over the southeast states Wednesday and Wednesday night. This storm then headed northeast Thursday and Thursday night, December 11th, with precipitation spreading northward well in advance of the low. The low continued to track northeast, passing over the mid Atlantic region late Thursday night, and over the New York City Metropolitan area and southern New England Friday morning, December 12th. The low then moved to the Canadian Maritimes Friday night.

As the storm approached, warmer air moved in aloft, and with a cold airmass remaining in place at the surface, this set the stage for a significant mixed precipitation event. The precipitation came down heavy at times, especially Thursday night. Hourly precipitation rates of one quarter to one third of an inch were reported for several hours in the form of freezing rain across much of the region. Thunder was even reported in Glens Falls. The precipitation changed back to snow before ending by midday Friday. Total ice accretion from freezing rain ranged from around one half of an inch, up to one inch across portions of the Capital District and the Berkshires. North and west of the Capital District, including the Saratoga region and east central Mohawk Valley, temperatures were colder and frozen precipitation fell. Snow and sleet amounts ranged from 2 to 4 inches just north and west of the Capital District, while up to 8 to 12 inches of snow and some sleet fell across portions of the southern Adirondacks.

The ice storm resulted in widespread damage to trees and resultant power outages across eastern New York, where an estimated 220,000 utility customers lost power. Many schools and businesses were shut down for several days due to the loss of power, and impassable roads from extensive fallen debris, resulting in significant economic and societal impacts. States of emergency were declared across large portions of eastern New York. The hardest hit areas were within the immediate Capital District, across Albany and extreme southern Saratoga Counties, as well as across the central and southern Taconics, from central Rensselaer County into Columbia County and northern Dutchess County.

Bitterly cold temperatures followed in the wake of the storm Saturday and Sunday, compounding the power outages across the region. Numerous warming shelters were setup to assist those who were without power and heat.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 141840. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.