Buffalo, New York was hit by a small tornado on Monday, catching residents by surprise and causing significant damage to buildings and vehicles in the downtown area. The tornado, which was captured on multiple videos, began near the shore of Lake Erie before moving into the city, leaving a trail of destruction in its path.
The National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado, which was classified as an EF-1 with maximum wind speeds of 90 mph, traveled a 1.4-mile path from the lake into the city. The sudden appearance of the tornado startled many residents and officials, with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz describing it as unexpected.
In the aftermath of the tornado, photos showed overturned cars, bent street signs, fallen tree limbs blocking roads and sidewalks, and damage to buildings. Despite the extensive damage, there were fortunately no immediate reports of injuries.
Several structures were impacted by the tornado, including a nursing facility that was assessing whether to relocate patients due to the damage. A school also suffered window damage, traffic lights were knocked offline, and multiple cars were overturned during the storm.
This tornado marks the third reported in Erie County in the past month, with previous tornadoes hitting the towns of Eden and West Falls on July 10. Additionally, two tornadoes were reported in neighboring Genesee County on the same day.
The unexpected nature of the tornado serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant and prepared for severe weather events, even in areas not typically prone to tornadoes. Residents and officials are urged to remain alert and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during such weather occurrences.
