A rare tornado warning was issued throughout parts of upstate New York Wednesday afternoon, where at least one twister seemingly landed near Erie County.
Buffalo station WIVB said the whirlwind touched down near Silver Creek just after noon and then spiraled northeast for hours.
Tornadoes were spotted outside Rochester shortly after 1 p.m. and near Darien Lake State Park in Genesee County a few minutes later, according to Rochester outlet Democrat and Chronicle.
Erie County executive Mark C. Poloncarz said “at least one tornado” appeared to have landed in the southern and central areas of his county, with the Town of Eden being one of the hardest hit.
“Significant damage has been incurred at a number of farms, especially barns which are a total loss, and animals are injured,” he posted online shortly after 3 p.m. “Thankfully there are no reports of human injuries.”
Buffalo Weather shared footage showing homes and barns in Eden with their roofs ripped off and trees snapped in half.
By 6 p.m., a tornado had been reported in Forestport, some 240 miles east of where the twister first touched down.
Poloncarz said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services officials had assured him assistance was on the ready.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned New Yorkers Wednesday that conditions upstate could be unfavorable heading into the evening.
“Severe Thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening could produce damaging winds and possibly some tornadoes,” the NWS advised.
Meteorologists said towns in the Finger Lakes area, including Bath and Ithaca, were at particular risk of harsh winds and possible tornadoes.
Post-tropical storm warnings were also in effect overnight for much the Northern Mid-Atlantic and New England.
Active weather through this evening. Continued risk for flash flooding and tornadoes. Keep weather aware through this evening, especially east of the Genesee Valley. pic.twitter.com/zjijF5tIBT
— NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) July 10, 2024
The unusual July weather comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which slammed south Texas early Monday, sending hard winds and heavy rains through the Midwest and toward the East Coast.
The formation of hurricanes this early in the year is also uncommon.
Beryl, which reached Category 5 status late Monday, was the first-ever Category 4 storm to form in June, according to The Associated Press. It passed through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in the U.S. Experts blame climate change for the warm oceanic temperatures that add to such increasingly serious weather events.
