Flash Flood in Clinton County, New York

Tropical Storm Irene deposited 3 to 6 inches of rainfall to Clinton county during the late morning and afternoon hours. The greatest rainfall amounts and impact were across central Clinton county along the eastern slopes of the Adirondacks. Significant flash flooding occurred within the Saranac, AuSable and Great Chazy valleys with numerous roads (local and State including Route 3, 11, 190, 374), as well as a few bridges, homes and businesses washed out. Some of the greater impacted communites included AuSable Forks, Altona, Cadyville and Morrisonville. Lots of agriculture flooding at harvest time. Two fatalities in Altona along the Great Chazy river on Devil' Den road as a vehicle drove off a closed and washed out bridge.

Tropical Storm Irene moved across southeast New York and southwest New England during the morning hours of August 28th and then proceeded to track north along the Connecticut River Valley in Vermont during the afternoon and evening.

Strong to damaging winds in excess of 60 mph was observed within several miles of Lake Champlain and wind gusts approaching 50 mph downed trees elsewhere in the Champlain Valley of New York during the afternoon hours.

The main, devastating impact from Irene, especially for Essex and southern Clinton counties was torrential rainfall and subsequent devastating flash and river flooding. Widespread rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches occurred across the Champlain Valley of New York as well as eastern Franklin county. However, rainfall amounts of 4 to 7+ inches were common across the eastern slopes of the Adirondacks in Essex and Clinton counties.

Devastating flash flooding occurred in mountain valleys, especially the Keene and AuSable River valleys with a record crest on the AuSable River.