Heavy Rainfall to Continue Over the Gulf Coast; Severe Thunderstorms in the Rio Grande Valley and Southern Appalachians Thursday

Widespread showers and thunderstorms will continue to bring a flooding threat over the central and eastern Gulf Coast through Friday. Heavy rainfall is likely to persist over Florida into the weekend. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected over the Rio Grande Valley and over the Southern Appalachians Thursday afternoon and evening. Strong winds and hail will be the primary threats. Read More >

Western New York Weather History

MAY 2

1972

A tornado struck South Wales/Varysburg area during the evening. The tornado moved east northeast on a skipping path over a total length of about 12 miles. Crossing two counties, the twister first touched ground at Wales Hollow about 6 miles east of South Wales. One house was completely unroofed, windows blown out and heavily damaged. In the same area another house lost part of its roof and was pushed off its foundation; four barns were destroyed or heavily damaged; two cows and a dog killed; numerous trees were uprooted or sheared off. The next touchdown occurred about four miles west of Varysburg. Two houses on opposite sides of the road were partly unroofed, siding ripped off, windows blown out and one home shifted on its foundation. A concrete block milkhouse, small cabin and three barns were demolished within yards of these two homes. The tornado made a third touchdown about a mile north of Varysburg. There two barns each had the upper half blown off and broken up. Several large spruce trees were sheared off or uprooted.

1983

One of the worst tornadoes in western New York history raked parts of Chautauqua county. The tornado touched down near Sherman and moved east over Chautauqua lake, Sinclairville, and Cherry Creek. Two women were killed. One was in a home that collapsed. The other sought shelter in a car in a garage. Both car and garage were blown off. Their respective husbands who were with them were critically injured. Many suffered minor injuries. Hundreds of trees were uprooted. Damage estimates were over 3 million dollars. The worst damage was reported at the Chautauqua shores housing development on the borders of the Chautauqua Institution. Winds downed 480 utility poles, blacking out 4,250 homes. Winds also damaged about 10 homes on the Chautauqua Institution grounds and demolished the facility's small yacht club, as well as downing 25 trees on the adjoining golf course. The Governor of New York declared Ellery, Gerry and Sinclairville disaster areas.

1992

Thunderstorms developed in a warm, moist southwest flow of air preceding a cold front. The thunderstorms produced damaging winds and large hail in Orchard Park and Hamburg, Erie county. Heavy rains -- nearly two inches in some spots -- also caused localized poor drainage flooding. The strong winds downed numerous trees and power and telephone lines.

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