NYS Weather Services Releases 2023 Top Five Weather Stories

by Rockland Daily Staff

The NYS Weather Services released 2023's top five weather stories of the year. 

In first place as the NYS Weather Services top story of the year was the July 9-10 flash flooding, which caused extensive damage throughout Rockland County, and a state of emergency declaration as reported by Rockland Daily here. as well as here. 

Homes were washed away. Creeks, streams, and brooks overflowed their banks. Many motorists had to be rescued with swift water equipment, and there was damage to the critical roadways that took months to repair, as reported by Rockland Daily here. 

In second place for weather story of the year was the extended smoke event caused by drifting smoke from the Canadian wildfires. This left Rockland County suffering from orange haze and poor air quality that went on for days in early June, as reported by Rockland Daily here and here. 

Third place was the extensive flash flooding across the NYC Metro on September 29. "A widespread 3-6" of rain fell with localized 7-9"," NYS Weather Services posted on X.  "Many major roads & highways were closed, with many motorists stranded, necessitating water rescues. Mass transit was also severely disrupted.

The NYS Weather Services, awarded fourth place to the multiple rounds of showers and storms that occurred from Motzei Shabbos, August 12, into early Sunday morning,  August 13. The storm was particularly newsworthy given that about 25,000 strikes occurred then.

Last but not least, according to the NYS Weather Services post on X was "The only notable snow event of winter," which occurred February 27-28. "Snowfall totals were mainly light ranging from 1-3", but some locations did receive higher amounts closer to 6" across the interior."