Flash Flood — Steuben, New York

2021-08-18 · near Freeman, Steuben, New York

Event narrative

A 31-year-old mother of one was killed when flood waters forced her car from State Route 417 in Steuben County on Wednesday night. The woman was driving a Ford Escape when severe flash flooding compromised the road, and forced the vehicle off the roadway between South Addison and Woodhull and into the Canisteo River. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wider weather episode

The moisture and remnants of Tropical Storm Fred moved across parts of the mid-Atlantic and northeast United States between August 18 to 20. As this feature moved over the central parts of New York and northeast Pennsylvania it produced locally heavy rainfall and severe flash flooding. Steuben County New York was one of the hardest hit areas with over 500 homes and businesses affected by flooding. The Tuscarora Creek eclipsed its previous record water level and pushed through town causing around 25 million dollars in damage to the local high school alone. Total damage estimates, just from this county, were close to 50 million dollars. One fatality was reported near Woodhull, NY when a woman was swept away in her vehicle. Other areas around the Finger Lakes region were also affected by localized flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.0785, -77.2973)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 982337. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.