Erie County Tornado City of Buffalo

Pacific Storms Continue to Impact the West; Severe Thunderstorms Forecast Thursday in the South

A series of Pacific storm systems will continue to impact the Northwest U.S. into this coming weekend with periods of gusty winds, high surf, low elevation rain, and heavy mountain snow. Severe thunderstorms will be possible on Thursday across central/east Texas into western Louisiana and possibly the ArkLaTex and southeast Oklahoma. Read More >

Public Information Statement National Weather Service Buffalo NY 433 PM EDT Mon Aug 5 2024 ...NWS Damage Survey for 8/5/2024 Tornado Event... .City of Buffalo Tornado... Rating: EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.4 miles Path Width /maximum/: 300 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: August 5, 2024 Start Time: 12:45 PM ET Start Location: City of Buffalo, Erie County, NY Start Lat/Lon: 42.8894 / -78.8940 End Date: August 5, 2024 End Time: 12:51 PM ET End Location: City of Buffalo, Erie County, NY End Lat/Lon: 42.8930 / -78.8675 The National Weather Service received multiple reports, pictures, and videos of a tornadic circulation starting west of the Niagara River, through the Lower West Side of the City of Buffalo, and on the north side of Downtown Buffalo. A National Weather Service storm survey team assessed the damage and confirmed a tornado that began at the shore of the Niagara River near the south end of LaSalle Park and the I-190/Niagara Street interchange. Multiple large hardwood tree limbs were snapped along the exit ramp and Carolina Street. The first damage to buildings was noted near Carolina Street and Niagara Street with roof air conditioners being removed and the loss of significant roofing material from a second structure. This roofing was deposited two blocks away on Whitney Place. Numerous tree limbs were broken and trunks snapped from Niagara Street, across Prospect Avenue and Whitney Place. Several chimneys were also toppled from homes on Prospect Avenue and Whitney Place. Continuing eastward, multiple trees were snapped in Johnson Park. Scattered tree limb damage and the deposit of upstream material occurred as the circulation crossed Delaware Avenue and continued east along Tupper Street. The final damage was noted near the intersection of Tupper Street and Oak Street, where two cars were overturned and some minor roof damage was noted to a structure. Based upon the large amount of large tree branches broken but limited amounts of healthy tree trunks snapped, the moving of several dozen rooftop air conditioning units, and the loss of roofing material on a couple of multi-level or multi-family units, the tornado has been preliminarily rated as an EF-1 with maximum estimated wind speed of 90 mph. The National Weather Service extends its thanks to the City of Buffalo Fire Department and City of Buffalo Engineering Department for their substantial assistance with today`s survey. EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.