Weather History for August 16

News Headlines

Spring Skywarn Spotter Training Schedule

Western New York Weather History

AUGUST 16

1977

Evening thunderstorms caused a variety of problems. More than 6000 customers in the Niagara Frontier lost power from lightning strikes and scattered squall winds. Almost two inches of rain in two hours flooded roads, underpasses, and many basements. The Depew-Lancaster area was hardest hit with an estimated 10% of their streets closed due to flooding. Rural roads in Genesee county were closed when the Tonawanda and little Tonawanda creeks overflowed their banks. Lightning caused a $38,000 fire destroying a home in Alexander in Genesee county. High winds in parts of Niagara county toppled a barn in Lewiston and wrecked a garage in Royalton. Minor lightning damage to two houses was reported in Genesee county.

1989

Aug 16th-17th...a total lunar eclipse occurred. Though some clouds interrupted viewing for a time, most of the eclipse was visible in western New York.

1997

Thunderstorms developed in warm unstable air across the western southern tier during the early afternoon hours. The thunderstorms produced strong winds which downed trees and power lines. Widespread power outages were reported in Olean, Cattaraugus county. In Lakewood, Chautauqua county, a large downed tree crushed an automobile and damaged a garage.

2002

Thunderstorms moved onshore from Lake Ontario during the late afternoon hours producing damaging winds. The winds downed trees and power lines in Watertown. A gust of 78 mph was recorded by the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at the Oswego County Airport in Fulton . Near the airport, several large trees were downed, one causing minor structural damage to a house. Another residence suffered minor structural damage as walls from a " Florida room" were torn and thrown from the house.

2007

A cold front crossed the region during the late afternoon hours. Thunderstorms accompanying the front produced damaging winds, estimated approaching 60 mph, which downed trees and power lines. Several thousand were left without power due to the storm. Specifically, damage reports were received from Batavia, Scottsville, Lima and Bristol.