The Southern Tier of New York is facing possible flash flooding Friday and potential river flooding this weekend as tropical storm Debby moves through the region.
The National Weather Service Office in Binghamton said remnants of the tropical storm will track over the region Friday, and the forecast is trending toward a fast-moving system that brings rain showers, occasional thunderstorms and possible flooding.
Here's the latest news and information related to the storm.
Flood cleanup begins in Steuben County
Saturday was a day of recovery as the Southern Tier caught its breath following dramatic flash flooding in the area.
Steuben County Commissioner of Public Works Eric Rosewas on scene in Woodhull Saturday as crews, homeowners and volunteers began cleaning up from the damage. Many roads remained closed in the southern part of the county.
Steuben County officials began detailing ways homeowners can get help with damage, and how people interested in donating can assist with recovery efforts. Details of rescue efforts during the worst of the storm began to emerge, as did data about just how high local rivers and streams rose during the flash flood event.
Shelters set up in Corning, Hornell for displaced residents
A Red Cross shelter is being established at the Corning-Painted Post High School Fieldhouse to aid people displaced by flash flooding. Addison Central School District buses were transporting impacted residents to the shelter Friday. The shelter will be open until Monday.
Another shelter "open to all individuals and families in need of essential services" was established Friday at Hornell High School located at 134 Seneca St. in Hornell. The shelter closed Saturday.
These Steuben County roads closed under emergency order
Portions of many roads in southern Steuben County have been closed under an emergency order following extensive flash flooding in the southern part of the county.
The county issued the following update to road closures Saturday evening:
- County Route 14 – From Cochrane Road to Turnpike Road (Town of Bath) and from County Route 69 to County Route 119 (Towns of Howard, Canisteo)
- County Route 119 – From County Route 10 to County Route 27 (Towns of Cameron, Canisteo) and from County Route 128 to State Route 36 (Town of Canisteo)
- County Route 31 – From State Route 36 (northern intersection) to County Route 63 (Towns of Canisteo, Jasper)
- County Route 71 – All (Town of Jasper)
- County Route 28 – From State Route 248 to County Route 64 (Towns of Canisteo, Hartsville)
- County Route 84 – From Hillard Road to Tombs Road (Town of Troupsburg)
- County Route 129 – County Route 82 to Washington Street (Town of Woodhull)
- County Route 21 – From County Route 102 to Hubbard Road (Towns of Rathbone, Woodhull)
- County Route 126 – From State Route 417 to Reiman Road (Town of Greenwood)
- State Route 248 – From Slate Creek Rd to Fall Creek Rd (Town of Canisteo)
- State Route 36 – From Canisteo (Willow Bend) South to Gravel Run (Town of Canisteo)
A travel advisory remains in place for the towns of Canisteo, Jasper, Greenwood, Woodhull and Cameron. Residents must avoid unnecessary travel in these towns, the county said.
Emergency responders, public works, and cleanup crews are actively working in these areas.
Widespread power outages continue Friday afternoon
Thousands of Southern Tier residents are still without power Friday afternoon and more customers have reported outages as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby sweep through the region. As of 4:20 p.m.,NYSEG reportedthe largest outages were in the following counties:
- Broome County: 4,360 customers without power
- Chenango County: 1,272 customers without power
- Delaware County: 6,100 customers without power
- Steuben County: 3,556 customers without power
- Tioga County: 2,418 customers without power
Choconut Creek reaches major flood stage
Choconut Creek has approached major flood stage. Broome County Office of Emergency Services said the creek, from Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania to Vestal, will crest between 10 and 11 feet.
Flooding will occur along low-lying areas along the creek.
The National Weather Service's measured impacts at that level include flooding of properties and homes on Richards Avenue, Kintner Estates, Glenwood Road, Coleman Street, West Hill Road, Grand Avenue, Sunset Avenue, Kellum Road and West Hill Road. Evacuations and water rescues have occurred in the past above this level.
NWS Radar in Southern Tier, NY
Power outages across Southern Tier
Thousands of Southern Tier residents are without power Friday afternoon as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby sweep through the region. As of 2 p.m., NYSEG reported the largest outages were in the following counties:
- Broome County: 3,090 customers without power
- Chenango County: 3,829 customers without power
- Steuben County: 3,337 customers without power
Steuben County declares state of emergency, orders evacuations
Steuben County declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon as persistent rainfall from Tropical Storm Debbytriggered widespread flash floodingand dangerous road conditions.
The county also issued emergency orders for evacuations of the hamlet of Woodhull along the Tuscarora Creek, as well as the hamlet of Jasper due to leaking propane storage tanks. All residents in the hamlet of Jasper and within a half mile of the hamlet should evacuate the area immediately.
Residents on the southside of the Village of Addison along the Tuscarora Creek were also ordered to evacuate. All residents along the Tuscarora Creek between Woodhull and Addison should head to higher ground immediately, according to the county.
A Red Cross shelter is being established at the Corning-Painted Post High School Fieldhouse.
As part of the county-wide state of emergency, residents were asked to avoid unnecessary travel until further notice.
In Greenwood, officials declared a local state of emergency, prohibiting all travel in the town.
Hickories Park in Owego closed
Hickories Park will close at 2 p.m. Friday "due to the impending flooding," Town of Owego Supervisor Donald Castellucci said in a statement.
The campground and dog park will also be closed.
Flood warnings for Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates counties
At 9:30 a.m., the Binghamton-based National Weather Service Office issued a flash flood warning for western Chemung and Schuyler counties, along with all of Steuben and Yates counties. The warning, which is in place until 3:30 p.m., said heavy rain will fall across the impacted area, where up to one inch has already fallen. This could lead to flooding of small creeks, streams, highways, streets and underpasses.
Flood warning for Allegany County with flooding an imminent threat
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Allegany County, including the towns of Angelica, Belfast, Wellsville, Andover and Alfred.
The flood warning is in place until 6:45 p.m. Friday. The warning says to expect "excessive rainfall" to cause flooding, with rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations facing an imminent threat.
Southern Tier counties under Friday flood watch
Friday morning, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for southwestern Broom County and central Susquehanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania until 1:45 p.m. today.
In its latest briefing, the Weather Service said along with flash flooding, there remains the continued potential for strong wind gusts and isolated tornadoes within storm cells.
The Weather Service said the potential for main stem river flooding has lessened somewhat.
A flood watch from Friday morning until early Saturday morning is in effect over a wide swath of New York state. The watch includes parts of central New York and more than a dozen counties in the Southern Tier including Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Yates and Bradford, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties in northeast Pennsylvania.
Two to three inches of rain expected in Hornell, Corning, Elmira
The most intense rainfall from the system is expected Friday, especially in the afternoon through the evening, as low pressure from Debby passes through the region, the Weather Service said.
The Weather Service still has some uncertainty where the heaviest rain axis will be, but the system will be moving through quickly, trackers predict.
The Weather Service said there is a "moderate risk" of flash flooding Friday during the day and Friday night.
River flooding is also possible Friday night and into the weekend, as creeks and streams drain into main-stem rivers, forecasters said. Flooding could persist even after the rainfall stops, the Weather Service cautioned.
The chance of precipitation in the Binghamton area Friday is near 100%, with the latest forecast calling for new rainfall amounts of between 1 and 2 inches on Friday.
The Weather Service said Friday night showers could bring thunderstorms, mainly before 2 a.m., to Broome County and to the surrounding areas.
The chance of rain was 100% for Friday in Elmira, Corning and Hornell, with two or three inches expected and localized flooding possible for all three, according to forecasts.
Wellsville in Allegany County has 100% chance of rain on Friday with a thunderstorm possible in the morning, according to the Weather Service. Wellsville, which is under a flood watch until later Friday, is due to receive one to two inches of rain, the Buffalo-based National Weather Service office said.
The rain could disappear as quickly as it came. Saturday is expected to be dry with temperatures in the 70s throughout much of the state.
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Southern Tier flood stage forecasts
Click here for a complete map of National Weather Service river gauges in the region.
- Susquehanna River at Vestal
- Susquehanna River at Binghamton
- Susquehanna River at Conklin
- Susquehanna River at Windsor
- Susquehanna River at Owego
- Susquehanna River near Waverly
- Susquehanna River at Unadilla
- Susquehanna River at Bainbridge
- Chenango River near Chenango Forks
- Chenango River at Greene
- Canisteo River near Arkport
- Canisteo River at Hornell
- Canisteo River at West Cameron
- Chemung River at Elmira
- Chemung River at Corning
- Cohocton River near Campbell
- Cohocton River at Bath
- Cohocton River at Avoca
- Tioga River at Lindley
- Genesee River at Wellsville
- Tioughnioga River at Lisle
- Cayuga Lake at Ithaca
- Fall Creek at Ithaca
