National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Western New York Weather History

 

SEPTEMBER 15

 

 

1990 

A vigorous cold front crossed western New York accompanied by thunderstorms containing heavy rain and strong winds. A peak gust of 55 mph was recorded at the Buffalo Airport at 6:53pm. Numerous trees and wires were downed in the town of Clarence. Damage reports included: one auto was crushed by a falling tree; some siding was stripped from a house; a basketball pole and backboard was doubled over; a garage door was bent inward; and a fence was blown down.

1996

Bands of heavy rain circulating around low pressure became enhanced by the relatively warm waters of Lake Erie. The activity focused in the northwest portion of Erie county with the cities of Kenmore, Tonawanda, and northwest Buffalo bearing the brunt of the heaviest downpours. Rainfall totals of 6" were reported from the Town of Tonawanda in a 36 hour period from 9PM on the 13th to 9AM on the 15th. Rain fell at over an inch per hour at times. Storm sewers and drains could not handle the runoff forcing the closure of over 30 streets and resulting in serious basement flooding in thousands of homes. Thousands of homes lost both their natural gas and their power.