A very warm and humid air mass was in place over eastern New York on Friday, August 12th.  Daytime temperatures were well into the 90s and dewpoints reached into the low to mid 70s.  As a result, heat index values reached 100 to 105 degrees for valley areas.  Some cooling centers were opened across parts of the region as a result of the excessive heat.
With the warm and humid air mass in place, scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours.  Although these thunderstorms had little upper level support, a few of the storms became severe, producing damaging wind gusts to trees and power lines.  In addition, one of the thunderstorms produced a cloud to ground lightning strike, which struck a group of five people under a tree in a park in Poughkeepsie.  Two of the people died as a result of their injuries.

Heat in EASTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Heat in EASTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Heat in SOUTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Heat in NORTHERN SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 14:53:00 to 12-AUG-16 14:53:00 (EST-5)
Location: DIMMICK CORNERS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Wires were reported down on Ballard Road in Wilton due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 15:06:00 to 12-AUG-16 15:06:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOUTH ARGYLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was downed at the intersection of Route 40 and Route 49 in South Argyle due to thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 15:16:00 to 12-AUG-16 15:16:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALBANY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were downed in Albany on Willett Street due to thunderstorm winds.

Lightning in DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 15:05:00 to 12-AUG-16 15:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: SPACKENKILL
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Five people (four men and one woman) were struck by lightning in Mansion Square Park in Poughkeepsie during a thunderstorm.  The five people were seated in park benches under a tree on the northern side of the park, when lightning struck the tree and traveled through the ground and into the benches.  Three of the people were unresponsive immediately after the lightning strike and two would eventually die due to their injuries.  Witnesses saw items burning near the people after the strike.

Thunderstorm Wind in SARATOGA, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 15:03:00 to 12-AUG-16 15:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: BACON HILL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A tree was reported down on power lines at the intersection of Lindsey Road and Colebrook Road in Gansevoort due to thunderstorm winds.

Heat in WESTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Heat in SOUTHEAST WARREN, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Excessive Heat in EASTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Heat in EASTERN ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Heat in WESTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 15:18:00 to 12-AUG-16 15:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST GREENWICH
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were downed at the intersection of Route 49 and Irwin Road in East Greenwich due to thunderstorm winds.

Excessive Heat in WESTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Excessive Heat in EASTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS

Heat in EASTERN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
From 12-AUG-16 10:00:00 to 12-AUG-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: ASOS