Allegany County Tornado

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
339 PM EDT Sat Sep 7 2024

...NWS Damage Survey for the Allegany County Tornado Event...

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team examined several 
reports of damage in the town of Wirt and Friendship in Allegany 
County. The damage found was consistent with a tornado, with
several areas of concentrated and extensive tree damage. The 
tornado occurred during the mid evening of Friday September 6, 
2024. 

Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph 
Path Length /statute/: 6 miles 
Path Width /maximum/: 200 yards 
Fatalities: 0 
Injuries: 0

Start Date: Friday 9/6/2024
Start Time: 934 PM EDT
Start Location: Town of Wirt, about 5.3 miles SSW of Friendship
Start Lat/Lon: 42.1349N 78.1760W

End Date: Friday 9/6/2024
End Time: 950 PM EDT
End Location: Town of Friendship, about 3.5 miles SE of Friendship
End Lat/Lon: 42.1829N 78.0788W

The National Weather Service Storm Survey Team found a
discontinuous path of damage consistent with a tornado across the
towns of Wirt and Friendship in Allegany County. The total path
length of the event was about 6 miles, however the tornado was not
on the ground for the entire length, with a notable gap in damage
near the midpoint.

The first instance of damage noted near the touchdown point was 
several hardwood and softwood trees uprooted and snapped in a 
heavily forested area along Clair Carrier Rd. The tornado then 
continued in a northeast direction and crossed Burdick Rd, 
producing minor tree damage. The tornado then intensified as it 
crossed County Route 34 and produced extensive tree damage with 
several dozen hardwood and softwood trees snapped or uprooted 
along a concentrated path, including several large trees. Damage 
in this area was rated EF-1.

The tornado damage then temporarily ended near a ridge line to the
northeast of County Route 34, with no visible damage noted as the
storm crossed New York Route 275. 

The tornado touched down again in a heavily forested area near a
residence on Wells Rd, with several dozen softwood trees snapped
or uprooted. Most of the trees in this area were pine. One tree
fell on a nearby residence and produced minor roof damage, but
none of the structures in the area had any direct damage from
wind. Damage in this area was rated EF-1. The tornado continued 
in a northeast direction and weakened, with sporadic minor tree 
damage noted along East Hill Rd and County Route 31. The damage 
ended in a heavily forested area to the northeast of County Route 
31. 

The data and summary within this report is preliminary. The area
the tornado occurred has limited road access. The path, starting,
and end points may be adjusted at a later date based on satellite
imagery.

&&

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.

$$

Hitchcock