Heavy rain overnight on Halloween has led to historic flooding in parts of the Adirondacks Friday, Nov. 1, 2019.

There has been widespread flooding and numerous roads have been closed across Hamilton, Herkimer, Warren and Essex counties, including the western slopes of the Champlain and Lake George Valleys.

DEC has been advising the public to avoid backcountry trails and summits throughout the Adirondack region. An announcement from the agency said that they anticipate that damage in the backcountry will be extensive and that these areas are unstable and dangerous to visitors. Water levels are currently high, some bridges are washed out, and all stream crossings will be impassable. In addition, trails are flooded and summits pose danger of potential rock slides and falling debris.  Several landslides have been reported in the High Peaks. High winds caused a large amount of downed trees and debris at trailheads and on trails, as well as downed trees and power lines across roadways.

Several major state highways were closed in places, including Routes 30, 8, and 9N, but have reopened.  The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported that the Essex County 911 trunk lines were down, DEC deployed its airboat, and there were power outages.

A High Wind Warning was also in effect at the time. Winds were forecast to gust to 65 mph. Winds brought down power lines and lots of blowdown. The National Guard and State Emergency Operations Center deployed. And a state of emergency was declared for 11 counties including Essex, Hamilton, Herkimer, Saratoga and Warren

In the AuSable River Watershed, Route 73 was closed near Marcy Field in Keene Valley. There was extensive flooding below the bridge at Upper Jay and Route 9N was closed near there, and between Jay and Au Sable Forks. Those roads have also reopened.

There has been historic flooding along the Sacandaga River and its tributaries, including at Hope, Wells, Lake Pleasant and Speculator. In Wells, Route 30 was underwater and there was extensive flooding nearby. State Route 30 was closed between Speculator and Indian Lake and also impassable in Hope where the Sacandaga River was several feet above flood stage.

In Speculator Page Street was closed, as was Elm Lake Road east of the bridge. South Shore Road in Speculator and Lake Pleasant were closed and Old Piseco Road in Piseco was closed. There were reports of flooding and trees down on State Route 10.

Flooding and washouts also closed State Route 8, the major east-west route across the Adirondacks, in several places from just west of Graphite near Lake George, at Bakers Mills, and into Herkimer County at Ohio Gorge, just east of Route 365.

The Hudson River was more than three feet over flood stage at North Creek, and there was also flooding along the Schroon River near Schroon Lake, which required a few rescues (1,2).

Although State Routes have reopened, many secondary and back country access roads remain closed on Friday, Nov. 8. You can find a complete list on the most recent Adirondack Outdoor Conditions Report.

This report was updated Friday, Nov. 8, 2019.

Adirondack Outdoor Alerts map courtesy Adirondack Atlas.