ROCHESTER, NY — Heavy wind and rain swept across New York on Saturday, cutting power to thousands and triggering severe thunderstorm, flash flood and tornado warning alerts on phones statewide. The weather caused widespread disruption, with flooding reported in several areas and some events called off or pushed back.
In Western New York, multiple severe thunderstorms produced flash flooding and prompted a tornado warning on the region’s eastern edge. At one point, more than 800 people were without electricity in Erie County.
What damage did Rochester and nearby communities see?
Rochester recorded just over 3 inches of rain, setting a new daily rainfall record and breaking the previous mark of 1.75 inches from 1908. The rain led to flooding around the city, including along I-590 and Calkins Road.
A flood warning remained in effect until 4 p.m. Sunday for part of Monroe County along Irondequoit Creek because of the heavy rainfall Saturday brought to the region.
What did residents describe during the storms?
People in storm-hit areas described fast-moving, intense conditions as the wind strengthened and hail began falling. One Victor resident, Jeff Swan, said the wind turned into a howl before hail came through and trees started falling.
His account matched the broader picture from across the state, where weather alerts and storm impacts came quickly and in some places left behind visible damage.
What is the National Weather Service still checking?
The National Weather Service office in Binghamton said it is surveying Delaware County to determine whether a tornado touched down there. The review is part of the effort to confirm exactly what formed during Saturday’s severe weather.
Multiple tornado warnings were issued during the storms, adding to the day’s broader pattern of severe weather, flash flooding and power outages.
Why are air quality advisories still in effect?
On top of the storm damage, air quality concerns continued into Sunday. The state Department of Environmental Conservation map showed health advisories for the central and western parts of New York.
Those regions were marked in orange, meaning air quality was unhealthy for sensitive groups. The rest of the state remained in yellow, indicating moderate air quality.
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