More severe rainfall in Western New York?

6/15/2022 (Permalink)

Does it seem like we’re seeing more severe weather in Western New York, especially more severe rainfall?

We’ve certainly been surprised at the amount of severe flooding that we’ve seen in parts of the region that have never flooded before.

We’re not the only ones who have noticed this trend. A recent article penned by Jill Jedlicka, executive director of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, called out this exact threat.

The article, published in Buffalo Rising, makes the following point about flooding in Western New York:

“Storms are getting more extreme and ‘flashier,’ meaning they have a tendency to rapidly develop and then dump large amounts of precipitation in a short period of time. Many parts of our built environment have not been designed to handle these kinds of storms.”

Our perspective is anecdotal, but we’ve definitely seen the effects of these kinds of “flashy” storms firsthand. They can easily overwhelm drainage systems in homes and businesses, as well as throughout Buffalo at large, leading to all sorts of disasters.

Our suggestion? Make sure your insurance coverage is solid, you keep up with maintenance in your home, and you save our number in your phone: 716-646-6684.