National Weather Service Buffalo NY
...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.
