61
Recorded events
2
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$36.3M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Onondaga County, New York: 61 recorded events between 1996 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #440 nationally and #28 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Onondaga County, New York: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Onondaga County is the 2010s, when 23 of the county's 61 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Onondaga County archive, flash flood makes up 8.0% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #440 for this hazard and #28 within New York, putting it in the 85.3 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for flash flood in Onondaga County with 24 recorded events, while Feb is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2015 | COLEVILLE | 0 | 1 | 0 | $500K |
| Aug 24, 1998 | MANLIUS | 0 | 1 | 0 | $20K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2025 | MOTTVILLE | 0 | $2K |
| Dec 18, 2023 | SOUTH BAY | 0 | $1K |
| Dec 18, 2023 | FRANKLIN PARK | 0 | $1K |
| Dec 18, 2023 | JAMESVILLE | 0 | $1K |
| Aug 8, 2023 | CICERO | 0 | $0 |
| Aug 8, 2023 | FAWN RIDGE | 0 | $50K |
| Aug 8, 2023 | JACKS REEF | 0 | $80K |
| Aug 8, 2023 | VAN BUREN | 0 | $5K |
| Aug 8, 2023 | SAND SPGS | 0 | $2K |
| Aug 8, 2023 | LIVERPOOL | 0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Onondaga County
- Thunderstorm Wind 454
- Hail 203
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Severe urban flash flooding occurred in the City of Syracuse. A man was swept to his death after stepping into an open manhole on East Fayette Street. Heavy rainfall caused the manhole cover to be blown off by excessive water pressure in the storm sewer system.
As a severe thunderstorm moved through the region early in the evening, it dumped torrential rains. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches were observed in less than 30 minutes. This caused the Limestone Creek to quickly rise out of its banks. A four year old girl was out playing by the creek near her backyard when waters rapidly rose. She was caught in the rushing water and found downstream later that evening. Unfortunately, she did not survive the ordeal. Some minor damage was also incurred to portions of other properties from the force of the water. Later that evening, water levels receded about as quickly as they came up.
The county reported permanent damage to over 250 roads in the county, with most of the damage centered on the Syracuse area. Several roads were totally washed out, and the City of Syracuse described the urban flash flooding as major. Most roads in the county experienced degrees of flooding from ponding to major flooding and roadway breakdown. Standing water remained and closed several road intersections for several days afterward.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Onondaga County, New York?
61 flash flood events are recorded in Onondaga County between 1996 and 2025, causing 2 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Onondaga County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Onondaga County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Onondaga County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Flash Flood in Onondaga County, New York.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/new-york/onondaga-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.