Tropical Storm Irene moved across southeast New York and southwest New England during the morning hours of August 28th and then proceeded to track north along the Connecticut River Valley in Vermont during the afternoon and evening.
Strong to damaging winds in excess of 60 mph was observed within several miles of Lake Champlain and wind gusts approaching 50 mph downed trees elsewhere in the Champlain Valley of New York during the afternoon hours.
The main, devastating impact from Irene, especially for Essex and southern Clinton counties was torrential rainfall and subsequent devastating flash and river flooding. Widespread rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches occurred across the Champlain Valley of New York as well as eastern Franklin county. However, rainfall amounts of 4 to 7+ inches were common across the eastern slopes of the Adirondacks in Essex and Clinton counties.
Devastating flash flooding occurred in mountain valleys, especially the Keene and AuSable River valleys with a record crest on the AuSable River.

Flash Flood in CLINTON, NEW YORK
From 28-AUG-11 15:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FRONTIER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 8.50M
Crop damage: 0.50M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm Irene deposited 3 to 6 inches of rainfall to Clinton county during the late morning and afternoon hours. The greatest rainfall amounts and impact were across central Clinton county along the eastern slopes of the Adirondacks. Significant flash flooding occurred within the Saranac, AuSable and Great Chazy valleys with numerous roads (local and State including Route 3, 11, 190, 374), as well as a few bridges, homes and businesses washed out. Some of the greater impacted communites included AuSable Forks, Altona, Cadyville and Morrisonville. Lots of agriculture flooding at harvest time. Two fatalities in Altona along the Great Chazy river on Devil' Den road as a vehicle drove off a closed and washed out bridge.

Flood in CLINTON, NEW YORK
From 28-AUG-11 18:30:00 to 29-AUG-11 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PERRYS MILLS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Irene caused flooding in Clinton County along the Great Chazy River. The Great Chazy at Perry Mills crested at 9.50 feet at 11:45 AM EDT on August 29. Flood stage is 9.0 feet. For the Ausable River at Ausable Forks, a new record crest was at at 18.43 feet at 22:30 EST August 29. Flood stage is 7.0 feet, and the previous record was 15.22 feet set on November 9 1996.

High Wind in EASTERN CLINTON, NEW YORK
From 28-AUG-11 14:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Sustained winds of 35 to 40 mph with multiple gusts in excess of 60 mph occurred for several hours along the lake shore of Clinton county.  More than 10,000 customers in Clinton county lost power due to damage to trees and power lines. Several boats suffered damage due to high damaging winds and pounding surf.

High Wind in EASTERN ESSEX, NEW YORK
From 28-AUG-11 14:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 350.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Sustained winds of 30 to 35 mph with multiple gusts in excess of 55 mph occurred for several hours along the lake shore of Essex county. More than 5000 customers in Essex county lost power due to damage to trees and power lines.

Flash Flood in ESSEX, NEW YORK
From 28-AUG-11 13:00:00 to 28-AUG-11 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: HASELTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 35.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm Irene deposited 3 to 7+ inches of rainfall to Essex county during the morning and afternoon hours. The greatest rainfall amounts and impact were across central and northern Essex county along the eastern slopes of the Adirondacks. Severe flash flooding occurred within the Keene and AuSable River valleys with numerous roads (local and State including Route 3, 9N, 73, 28N), bridges, homes and businesses washed out in towns like Lake Placid, Jay, Keene, AuSable, Wilmington. Local EMs have determined this is the greatest natural disaster in the county.

Flood in ESSEX, NEW YORK
From 28-AUG-11 15:30:00 to 29-AUG-11 11:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLINTONVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Irene caused extensive flooding in the Ausable River basin. For the Ausable River at Ausable Forks, a new record crest was at at 18.43 feet at 22:30 EST August 29. Flood stage is 7.0 feet, and the previous record was 15.22 feet set on November 9 1996.