The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-O tornado touched down in Cortland County during last week’s severe weather outbreak.
It was one of two confirmed tornadoes in the Finger Lakes region on Thursday, June 18, according to the Weather Service. The other – an EF-1 tornado touched down in Yates County Thursday morning.
Tornado in Cortland NY
According to a storm survey released Friday, the tornado touched down near Cortland, Cortland County, at 11:32 a.m. Thursday. It was on the ground briefly – for about two minutes – and traveled 1.89 miles moving northeast before it dissipated. It had an estimated wind peak of 80 mph and a 200-yard wide path, according to the Weather Service.
Damage by the Cortland NY tornado
Much of the reported damage from the twister was to trees. Multiple trees toppled – some were uprooted – along Route 222 and nearby residential roads. Some trees fell as well near the Cortland County Airport. The most extensive was mainly large uprooted trees and large snapped trees, according to the report.
Yates County tornado
An EF-1 tornado touched down near Rock Stream, Yates County, at 10:55 a.m. Thursday.
Meteorologists said the tornado produced peak winds of 90 mph as it moved through the area, causing damage along a path that stretched from Reading Road to Fir Tree Point on Seneca Lake. The twister was on the ground for roughly two minutes and traveled for 1.21 miles. Its path was 150 yards wide.
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 now confirmed in New York from Thursday’s storm outbreak
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
