An area of low pressure tracking from the Great Lakes to Hudson Bay advected in an unseasonably warm air mass into the region from Thursday, December 24 to Friday, December 25, 2020. Rain gradually overspread the region from west to east during the day on December 24 with the steadiest, heaviest rainfall during the overnight hours and early morning hours of December 25. Rain showers continued through the day on December 25 and changed to snow showers during the evening and overnight hours of December 25-26 as colder air returned.
The region still dealt with nearly the entire snowpack from the blockbuster winter storm from December 16-17. While the snow compacted over time, very little water was lost from the snow. Observations concluded that between 1.50 to 3.00 inches of water was in the snowpack prior to this event and most if not all of this snow melted.
Rainfall totals across eastern New York were generally between 1 to 3 inches; however, the eastern Catskills received 4 to 6 inches of rain. These amounts do not include the additional 1.50 to 3.00 inches of water that melted from the snowpack. The combination of warm air, rainfall, and melting snowpack led to areal and river flooding across the region. There were numerous reports of roads being closed due to the flooding. Local emergency managers had to evacuate a few communities due to the rising waters. Some roads across Greene and Ulster counties were washed out and had to be rebuilt. Two area rivers reached or exceeded moderate flood stage, Esopus Creek and Schoharie Creek. The Esopus briefly reached major flood stage at Mount Tremper between 0345EST and 0435EST. The Schoharie reached moderate flood stage at Breakabeen and Burtonsville, and major flood stage at Prattsville (0338EST to 0742EST) and Gilboa Bridge (0450EST to 1034EST). The Schoharie County Department of Public Works and town highway departments identified $332,000 in damage, mostly to roads. Damage estimates were $30,000 in Conesville and $50,000 in Blenheim. A mass of supersaturated snow due to heavy rain slid down a slope at the Belleayre Ski Center and crashed into the lodge, breaking doors and windows and causing water damage inside.
In addition to the rainfall, gusty winds accompanied the event with wind gusts reaching 40 to 60 mph, especially across the mid-Hudson Valley and Taconics. A 68 mph wind gust was recorded at Bannerman Island. Scattered trees were downed as a result of the wind and softened soils due to the warm air and recent rainfall.
Key Impacts: road closures, tree damage, damage to structures, evacuations.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WEST KILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Route 42 Northbound and Southbound lanes were closed due to flooding between County Route 6 and Howard Road in the Hamlet of West Kill.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 01:22:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:07:00 (EST-5)
Location: PRATTSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Fire Department crews evacuated 20 to 25 residents along County Route 7 in Prattsville due to rising waters on the Schoharie Creek.

Flood in ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 02:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 05:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: PHOENICIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Flooding occurred in Downtown Phoenicia between 2:00 am and 5:30 am. Water was flowing down Main Street from the Esopus Creek. Eleven people were evacuated.

Flood in COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 06:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 12:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: HUDSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Flooding was reported on Route 9G in Greenport near Hudson.

High Wind in WESTERN RENSSELAER, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 02:17:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A 60 mph wind gust was recorded in Brunswick.

High Wind in EASTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 02:17:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Scattered trees were downed across Ulster County.

High Wind in EASTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 24-DEC-20 16:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: 911 Call Center

There were scattered reports of trees down throughout Dutchess County.

High Wind in WESTERN DUTCHESS, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 02:17:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

There were scattered reports of trees down across Dutchess County. A 68 mph wind gust was recorded at Bannerman Island.

Strong Wind in EASTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 24-DEC-20 16:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 47.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 3.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

There were scattered trees downed across Columbia County. A 54 mph wind gust was recorded at the New York State Mesonet at Copake.

Strong Wind in WESTERN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 02:17:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 45.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 3.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Scattered trees were downed across Columbia County.

Strong Wind in WESTERN GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 02:17:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 46.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 53 mph wind gust was recorded at the New York State Mesonet at Tannersville.

Flood in ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-20 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHICHESTER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

One lane of Route 214 was washed out near the Greene/Ulster County line, resulting in a road closure. A complete rebuild of the roadway was required. One lane of alternating traffic was opened on the 26th between Moggre Road in Ulster County and Saw Mill Road in Greene County.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-20 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: LANESVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

One lane of Route 214 was washed out near the Greene/Ulster County line, resulting in a road closure. A complete rebuild of the roadway was required. One lane of alternating traffic was opened on the 26th between Moggre Road in Ulster County and Saw Mill Road in Greene County.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-20 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: JEWETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 85.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

County Route 17 in Jewett was closed between Route 23A and Mill Hollow Road due to a washout. A power pole on the side of the road was also washed out. A complete rebuild of the road was required, and the road remained closed as of mid-February 2021.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-20 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SPRUCETON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hunter Brook washed mud, rock, and debris onto the end of Spruceton Road, blocking access to a popular hiking trailhead.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 01:22:00 to 25-DEC-20 10:07:00 (EST-5)
Location: PRATTSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Route 23 had both lanes closed due to high water from the Delaware County line to County Route 2 in Prattsville.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 01:00:00 to 26-DEC-20 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PALENVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A creek washed over a bridge on Pennsylvania Avenue in Catskill, depositing debris and damaging the roadway.

Flood in SCHOHARIE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 05:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH BLENHEIM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Route 30 and Bear Ladder Road were closed due to several feet of water over the roadways from the flooded Schoharie Creek.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 02:00:00 to 26-DEC-20 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: LEEDS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Cauterskill Road and County Route 23B in Leeds were closed due to water over the road.

Flood in ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 07:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: DORMANSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The causeway on County Road 404 over the Basic Creek Reservoir was closed due to 6 to 12 inches of water over the roadway.

Flood in ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 04:30:00 to 25-DEC-20 13:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: MENANDS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Route 32 had its southbound lane closed between Cemetery Avenue and First Street in Menands due to flooding.

Flood in ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 05:45:00 to 25-DEC-20 11:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: AQUETUCK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Route 143 was closed at Cedar Ridge Road in the Town of Coeymans due to flooding.

Flood in HAMILTON, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 09:17:00 to 25-DEC-20 11:28:00 (EST-5)
Location: PAGE HILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Route 30 was closed between the town of Indian Lake and the village of Speculator due to flooding.

Flood in ALBANY, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 14:07:00 to 25-DEC-20 20:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: VOORHEESVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Route 85A was closed at Hickory Ridge Road due to flooding.

Avalanche in WESTERN ULSTER, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 05:30:00 to 25-DEC-20 05:30:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Newspaper

A mass of supersaturated snow due to heavy rain slid down a slope at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center Christmas morning. The mass of snow, which also contained other debris, broke doors and windows and took out a wall. The snow melted inside the lodge, resulting in water damage. No one was in the lodge at the time. The damage resulted in the ski center being closed the following day.

Flood in COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 09:30:00 to 25-DEC-20 15:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: EDWARDS PARK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Edwards Park Road North was closed due to flooding.

Flood in COLUMBIA, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 09:30:00 to 25-DEC-20 15:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: WEST COPAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Trout Brook Road in Copake was closed near Empire Road.

Flood in GREENE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 09:00:00 to 25-DEC-20 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: CATSKILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Water was over a roadway at Dutchmen's Landing.

Flood in SCHOHARIE, NEW YORK
From 25-DEC-20 08:30:00 to 25-DEC-20 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: MIDDLEBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Route 30 was under several feet of water in Middleburgh due to flooding.