Two tornadoes touched down last week in Cattaraugus County, New York, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Both twisters took place on Wednesday evening, April 15, and were rated EF-O. The tornadoes touched down just two weeks after an EF-1 with estimated peak winds of 107 mph struck Machias, Cattaraugus County, on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 31.
The latest twisters in New York
The first tornado had an estimated peak winds of 75 mph and touched down in Machias, where it was on the ground for 0.17 miles, according to the Weather Service. It had a maximum path width of 55 yards. The twister “was short-lived but persistent” and had a path width of 55 yards, touched down at 8:13 p.m. and was on the ground for roughly a minute, according to the report.
Damage from the tornado included numerous trees uprooted, branches snapped and wires down. A window was blown out of one home near Tug Hill and Gulf Hill roads and some shingles blew from a roof.
The second tornado has an estimated peak of 80 mph and touched down in Farmersville, Cattaraugus County, where it was one the ground for nearly a quarter-mile, according to a report from the National Weather Service in Buffalo. The twister touched down at 8:16 p.m. and was on the ground for two minutes. The path width was 75 yards.
Dozens of trees were uprooted and some large branches snapped, with one tree falling onto a structure in Farmersville. Strong winds during the event caused a small outbuilding to flip over on private property in the area, according to the Weather Service.
No injuries were reported during either tornado, according to the Weather Service.
What is a tornado watch?
A tornado watch is an alert issued by the National Weather Service. It means that tornadoes are possible in and near the “watch” area.
A tornado watch is issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur, and the watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or states.
If a tornado watch is issued in your area, the Weather Service says to be prepared and be ready to act quickly if the next level, a warning, is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
MORE: Tornado warning issued? What to do when sirens sound
What is a tornado warning?
A tornado warning is a more serious alert, indicating that a tornado is either happening or is about to happen, and you should take shelter immediately.
Tornadoes in New York: A history of twisters
Since 1950, New York has experienced over 500 tornadoes, with the majority being relatively weak EF0 and EF1 twisters. However, the state has also seen a few significant tornado events, including the devastating tornado outbreak of May 31, 1985, which produced several powerful tornadoes, including an EF4 in Chenango County. While tornadoes are less common in New York compared to regions like the Midwest, they remain a notable and occasionally destructive aspect of the state’s weather history.
A record-breaking 33 tornadoes touched down in New York in 2024, including two stronger than an EF-2. Two other high tornado years in New York were 1992 and 1998, when 25 and 23 tornadoes were recorded, respectively. Seven tornadoes occurred in New York last year.
When is peak tornado season in New York?
While peak tornado season starts as early as March in some southern states, New York’s peak tornado season runs from June through August, though tornadoes can happen any time of the year, according to the National Weather Service.
Tornado season elsewhere in the nation peaks from May to June in the Plains states and in June or July in the upper Midwest.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Two tornadoes confirmed in upstate NY. See where they hit
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
