Weather History for May 20

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National Safe Boating Week: May 17-23, 2025

Western New York Weather History

MAY 20

1996

A line of severe thunderstorms crossed Niagara, Genesee and Monroe counties producing damaging winds. The thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in North Tonawanda, Elba, Riga and Bergen. Power outages were numerous. In Riga, the winds damaged a large roadsign.

2004

20TH-21ST...Thunderstorms developed along a front stalled across the Finger Lakes Region. The thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in Le Roy and Caledonia . The slow moving storms also produced up to three inches of rain in less than an hour. Several roads were closed and one home on East Lake Road in Conesus was damaged. The Town of Naples was hardest hit. Many roads were washed out. Others were covered with up to three feet of debris and gravel and were impassable. Roads affected included County Routes 36 and 37, Gulick Road and Routes 21 and 245. Schools were closed on the 21st because of hazardous driving conditions. In South Bristol , rocks and mud slid down a hill and partially buried a home. Tons of debris filled the house. Some roads could take weeks to rebuild and re-open. County Emergency management estimated $2 million in damage to private property and nearly $4 million in damages to roads and other county infrastructure.

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