Flash Flood — Broome, New York

2011-04-28 · near Tracy Creek, Broome, New York

Event narrative

Broome county experienced significant flash flooding, especially along the route 26 corridor. Route 26 was closed between Glen Aubrey and Whitney Point, with 18 houses cut off by flood waters. Nanticoke Creek in the town of Maine flooded many homes, with water up to the first floor of some homes. The county reported 3.5 million in public sector damages, not including an additional 0.6 million for roadway damages to Interstate 81 in the Binghamton area or damages to about a dozen homes along Route 26. Close to 150 people were evacuated and two shelters were set up.

Wider weather episode

A significant severe weather outbreak developed across central New York as a storm system moved east from the Great Lakes. First, showers and thunderstorms developed early in the evening on the 27th, as an upper level disturbance approached the region. Two of the more significant storms included one supercell that produced a tornado in Steuben county, and a bowing line segment that caused tree and structural damage across Steuben, Chemung and Schuyler counties. Elsewhere across central New York, storms caused scattered wind damage and heavy rain.

After a brief break in the late evening, mini super cells developed overnight ahead of a cold front. Several tornadoes and severe thunderstorms developed between about 1:30 a.m. and 6 a.m., with many reports of damage. Most of the tornadoes were EF1 and EF2. Significant flash flooding also transpired during the overnight hours.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.0087, -76.0941)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 303762. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.