Flash Flood — Yates, New York

2014-05-14 · near Penn Yan Arpt, Yates, New York

Event narrative

Catastrophic flash flooding was occurring in the downtown area of the Village of Penn Yan. Jacobs Brook became a raging torrent of water as it traveled into, and under the center of the village. The hardest hit areas were in the vicinity of Elm Street and Champlin Avenue where roads buckled, parking lots caved in, and the Owl's Nest Community Center collapsed. Tractor-trailer container boxes were seen floating down the streets, where they collided into the Wagner restaurant causing significant structural damage. Foundations of several homes were washed away during the flood.

Wider weather episode

Several clusters of thunderstorms repeatedly moved along a warm front in the vicinity of the Finger Lakes region. Radar rainfall estimates indicated a narrow band of 4 to 5 inches of rain occurred over the central portion of Yates and Seneca counties. This rainfall resulted in devastating flash flooding in Penn Yan, NY where roads and buildings were destroyed by flood waters. Total public damages are estimated between 10 and 12 million dollars.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.6600, -77.0500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 519976. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.