Jan 8, 1998
A general two and a half to three inches of rain fell in a two day period. The rain fell onto bare, already saturated ground. The rapid runoff caused Buffalo area creeks and streams to crest quickly. Levels on Buffalo, Cazenovia, Ellicott and Cayuga creeks crested about a foot or two above flood stage, but not significant damage was reported. Tonawanda creek crested over four feet above flood stage, the highest since 1985. One hundred homes had to be evacuated in Batavia.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5627719). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Erie County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.