March 31, 2026 Tornado

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
1044 AM EDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...NWS Damage Survey for 03/31/2026 Tornado Event...

.Update...
After further review of drone footage provided by Cattaraugus County
Emergency Services, there has been an update to the maximum path width
to 200 yards for the tornado southwest of Machias on March 31st. The
maximum path width was observed between Ashford Road and the railroad
tracks.


.Machias Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    107 mph
Path Length /statute/:  1.4 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   200 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             March 31, 2026
Start Time:             3:43 PM EDT
Start Location:         2.5 miles southwest of Machias, Cattaraugus County
Start Lat/Lon:          42.396, -78.547

End Date:               March 31, 2026
End Time:               3:46 PM EDT
End Location:           2.5 miles southwest of Machias, Cattaraugus County
End Lat/Lon:            42.390, -78.521

The National Weather Service in Buffalo investigated storm-related
damage from a rotating thunderstorm that affected the area southeast
of Machias in Cattaraugus County on March 31st. The National Weather
Service storm survey team investigated the damage in the area this
afternoon and confirmed damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado with
estimated peak winds of 107 mph.

This storm originally moved off of Lake Erie traveling east-southeast
at 40 mph, passing through Gowanda, NY with numerous reports of
wind-driven and accumulating large hail. As the storm moved across
northern Cattaraugus County, a mid-level mesocyclone began to intensify
east of U.S. Route 219. The low-level mesocyclone quickly intensified
southeast of Machias, but was short-lived and dissipated east of
Route 16 south of Machias.

Damage from the tornado began just west of Maple Valley Road where
numerous trees were uprooted and snapped at a few residences. There
was a mix of hard and softwood trees observed down. The damage path
became more defined moving east dropping into the valley and creek
bed between Maple Valley Road and Ashford Road. The majority consisted
of hardwood trees snapped at various heights with a mixed, but
generally convergent pattern. A few trees were observed with an
opposite damage direction pointed against the storm motion. Tree
damage became intermittent between Ashford Road and Very Road with a
nearby farm houses and residences unaffected. Sporadic tree damage was
observed in the forested area south of Gulf Hill Road leading to a
damage path length of approximately 1.4 miles.

Additional damage observed farther west closer to the town of
West Valley included a barn roof ripped off near Roszyk Hill Road.
This damage was more consistent with straight line winds before
the storms low-level mesocyclone intensified. Estimated winds
for this damage was 74 mph.

The National Weather Service extends our thanks to Cattaraugus
County Emergency Services and the Cattaraugus County Sheriffs
Office for their assistance with todays 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.

$$

MB/LJ