Flash Flood — Herkimer, New York

2019-10-31 · near Norway, Herkimer, New York

Event narrative

The shoulder of Military Road in Norway collapsed due to flood waters. An 82-year old man's vehicle became stuck with the driver's side wheels on the pavement, and the passenger side wheels in a ravine created by the floodwaters. The man died when he exited the vehicle and was swept away by floodwaters.

Wider weather episode

A strengthening low pressure system moving from Ohio to Lake Ontario drew anomalous warmth and moisture northward on Halloween, with temperatures surging into the 60s and 70s over eastern New York and western New England. Showers across the southern Adirondacks and Mohawk Valley became steadier and heavier during the evening ahead of a strong cold front as the low continued to strengthen. Strong winds aloft mixed down to the surface as an intense line of showers developed along the front, resulting in sporadic wind damage and scattered power outages over eastern New York.

A large swath of rainfall totaling 2-5 inches, with isolated areas as high as 7 inches, occurred over the Mohawk Valley and southern Adirondacks, resulting in reports of flash flooding. The runoff caused rapid rises on area creeks and streams, with river gauges reaching record levels along the Mohawk River at Little Falls, the West Canada Creek at Hinckley and Kast Bridge, and the Sacandaga River at Hope. Moderate flooding also occurred on the Hudson River at Fort Edward, Hadley, and North Creek; the Schroon River at Riverbank; and the Mohawk River at Delta Dam. Although river rises and some impacts occurred prior to midnight, the crests occurred on 1 November, and impacts persisted into the first week of November in some areas (see also November StormData). The flooding was extensive over portions of the area, damaging and destroying numerous roads and structures and resulting in water rescues. Between 150 and 200 people were evacuated in Herkimer County. The number of dwellings damaged by the flooding was 344, of which 135 sustained major damage, and 18 were destroyed. There was one fatality as a result of the flooding as a man was swept away by flood waters when he exited his vehicle.

As a result of the flooding, a major disaster for the state of New York was requested by Governor Cuomo and approved by the President. The monetary damages for public infrastructure requested for the Mohawk Valley and southern Adirondacks totaled around $17 million ($1.2 million for Fulton County, $3.0 million for Hamilton County, $8.8 million for Herkimer County, $0.5 million for Montgomery, $1.6 million for Saratoga, and $1.9 million for Warren). Actual damage amounts were estimated to be even higher by county emergency managers. A state of emergency was declared for Dutchess, Herkimer, Hamilton, Saratoga, and Warren Counties, and boil water notices were issued in Herkimer, Hamilton, and Warren Counties due to floodwater inundation of private and public water systems. The American Red Cross opened shelters to house those displaced by flood damage.

Other impacts from the flooding and high winds included the cancellation of Amtrak service between Syracuse and Albany due to high water encroaching on train tracks, and portions of the Adirondack Park backcountry becoming impassable due to bridge washouts, high water at stream crossings, and downed trees and debris on trails and at trailheads.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.2133, -74.9601)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 859118. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.