As a strong thunderstorm swept across Northwestern New York on Thursday morning, over one million people were warned to stay vigilant for a possible tornado.
Why It Matters
Although there were no tornado watches or warnings in effect for New York, tornadoes are unpredictable and frequently arrive with little warning, giving people only minutes to seek shelter.
During the heavy thunderstorm, New Yorkers were encouraged to seek shelter. Even when there is no tornado present, severe winds and hail can cause injury or property damage.
What To Know
On Thursday morning, just before 10 a.m. local time, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Buffalo, New York, issued a severe thunderstorm warning.
The alert affected more than 920,000 individuals in Northeastern Erie County, Niagara County, Southwestern Orleans County, and Northwestern Genesee County.
“At 957 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Erie Basin Marina, or 7 miles west of Kenmore, moving northeast at 40 mph,” the warning said, adding that impacted locations include Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Niagara Falls, West Seneca, North Tonawanda, Clarence, Lockport, Lackawanna, Batavia and Kenmore.
Wind gusts of up to 60 mph were predicted, as well as pea-sized hail, and people were warned to “expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.” The alert also stated that a tornado could occur.
“For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,” the NWS advised.
On Thursday, a cold front pushes east across the region, bringing with it the storm. NWS Buffalo warned of a few thunderstorms and rain showers throughout the day. The region is also under a special maritime warning, small craft advice, and other weather alerts.
What Happens Next
The thunderstorm warning expires at 11 a.m. local time, but NWS meteorologists warn that storms and rain showers may continue throughout the day. People in the area were encouraged to watch local weather forecasts and be prepared to seek shelter if a violent thunderstorm developed.
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