Western and central New Yorkers experienced a rare widespread large and damaging hail event on the 16th of June.  A warm humid airmass at the surface combined with an increasingly cold airmass advecting in aloft. Thunderstorm activity initially focused on the main lake convergence boundary between the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario breezes. The first cells exploded over Niagara and Orleans counties shortly before 1 p.m. and reports of hail came in almost immediately. For the next two hours, cell after cell rolled along a similar path across southern Niagara, southern Orleans, Monroe, Wayne and northern Cayuga counties���many of which had hail of up to an inch-an-a-half diameter. The activity waned for next few hours but after some additional heating due to clearing skies, more hail-filled cells developed. These storms produced hail up to two inches in diameter���a rare event for western New York.  One particular thunderstorm formed over Grand Island, Erie county, and intensified as it moved southeast across the densely-populated northern and eastern suburbs of Buffalo. The golf-ball sized hail damaged thousands of automobiles as well as windows, roofs and awnings on homes. At the Amherst Middle School, the hail pierced 1200 to 1500 holes in the skylight roof.
While property damage was significant, the damage to area crops was devastating. The hailstones pummeled fruits leaving divots and cracks. Vegetable plants were stripped of their leaves. Apples, peaches and pears that were not stripped from the tress and could have been sold for eating fresh will have to be sold for processing at a substantially lower cost because of being misshapen and bruised.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a Disaster Declaration for Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties. Crop damage amounts are estimated since actual dollar losses will not be realized until the agricultural season ends.

Hail in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:15:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLACKWATCH HILLS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 133.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:23:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST PENFIELD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 133.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 17:53:00 to 16-JUN-08 17:53:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALCONWOOD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:00:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALCONWOOD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 18:10:00 to 16-JUN-08 18:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: DEPEW
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in CAYUGA, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:20:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: MERIDIAN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 18:05:00 to 16-JUN-08 18:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHEEKTOWAGA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 18:00:00 to 16-JUN-08 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: AMHERST
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:20:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLARENCE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:18:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLARENCE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in GENESEE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 17:15:00 to 16-JUN-08 17:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: BYRON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 3.40M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 17:53:00 to 16-JUN-08 17:53:00 (EST-5)
Location: BUFFALO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:15:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: AMHERST
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in GENESEE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 14:10:00 to 16-JUN-08 14:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: BATAVIA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 3.40M
Reported by: Public

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 18:20:00 to 16-JUN-08 18:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALDEN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 17:49:00 to 16-JUN-08 17:49:00 (EST-5)
Location: KENMORE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:37:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALDEN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:18:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: EGYPT
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 133.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:15:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: FAIRPORT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 133.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 17:52:00 to 16-JUN-08 17:52:00 (EST-5)
Location: SNYDER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CAYUGA, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:10:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: CATO
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 18:05:00 to 16-JUN-08 18:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: DEPEW
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:37:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOUTH NEWSTEAD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 17:51:00 to 16-JUN-08 17:51:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALCONWOOD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:45:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST WILLIAMSON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Public

Hail in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:35:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: PALMYRA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Public

Hail in NIAGARA, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:10:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: NASHVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 240.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ONTARIO, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:45:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: PORT GIBSON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 1.20M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Hail in NIAGARA, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 11:59:00 to 16-JUN-08 11:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: LOCKPORT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 240.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 17:10:00 to 16-JUN-08 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: BROCKPORT LDGVL ARPT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 133.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in NIAGARA, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 16:24:00 to 16-JUN-08 16:24:00 (EST-5)
Location: CARLISLE GARDENS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 240.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:25:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLACKWATCH HILLS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 133.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in NIAGARA, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:03:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH TONAWANDA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 240.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in NIAGARA, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:13:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:13:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH TONAWANDA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 240.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:50:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALTON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Public

Hail in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:54:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:54:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROSE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:40:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWARK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Public

Hail in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:45:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: SODUS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Public

Hail in ORLEANS, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:50:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: WEST SHELBY
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 8.00M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Hail in WAYNE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:28:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:28:00 (EST-5)
Location: PULTNEYVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:25:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: AMHERST
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in MONROE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 12:55:00 to 16-JUN-08 12:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHILI CENTER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 133.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in ERIE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 13:25:00 to 16-JUN-08 13:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALCONWOOD
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in GENESEE, NEW YORK
From 16-JUN-08 18:33:00 to 16-JUN-08 18:33:00 (EST-5)
Location: DARIEN CENTER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 3.40M
Reported by: Trained Spotter