Flash Flood in Cattaraugus County, New York

A stalled warm front was the focus for heavy showers and embedded thunderstorms which trained across the western Southern tier. Rainfall amounts of one to three inches in just a few hours resulted in flash flooding across the region. Roads and culverts were washed out. Numerous roads were water-covered and closed. Some of these included: Routes 39, 62, and 353 in Gowanda; Route 242 in Little Valley; and Route 353 in Cattaraugus. Roads were also reported closed in Randolph, Derby, Evans Center, Salamanca, Perrysburg and Forestville. Evacuations took place in Silver Creek and Gowanda. In Gowanda, several high water rescues took place. States of Emergency were declared in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. The resulting damages were enough to warrant a State Disaster Declaration.