Alert archive / New York / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Buffalo, NY

July 16, 2020Cattaraugus County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this tornado warning at Jul 16, 2020, 6:59 PM EDT for Cattaraugus County, New York. It was in force for 31 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 16, 2020, 6:59 PM EDT (22:59 UTC)
Expired
Jul 16, 2020, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Buffalo, NY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

County Cattaraugus County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:03 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 16, 1:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 90 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2020-07-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 12 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Buffalo Intl Airport, NY at 12:00Z on 2020-07-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 171 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
12 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-260 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1469 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
171 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
161 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

126 
WFUS51 KBUF 162259
TORBUF
NYC009-162330-
/O.NEW.KBUF.TO.W.0005.200716T2259Z-200716T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
659 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Cattaraugus County in western New York...

* Until 730 PM EDT..

* At 659 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Salamanca, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Olean, Allegany and St. Bonaventure around 730 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Vandalia, Kill Buck, Carrollton, Great Valley and Humphrey.

This includes Interstate 86 between exits 19 and 26.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4205 7884 4221 7885 4224 7841 4204 7841
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 268DEG 18KT 4215 7875 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Mitchell
2 follow-up statements
440 
WWUS51 KBUF 162321
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
721 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

NYC009-162330-
/O.CON.KBUF.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-200716T2330Z/
Cattaraugus NY-
721 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CATTARAUGUS COUNTY...
    
At 720 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Salamanca, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Allegany around 735 PM EDT.
  St. Bonaventure around 740 PM EDT.
  Olean around 745 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Vandalia, Kill Buck, Carrollton and Humphrey.

 This includes Interstate 86 between exits 23 and 26.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4205 7870 4220 7871 4224 7841 4204 7841
TIME...MOT...LOC 2320Z 268DEG 18KT 4215 7860 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Mitchell
313 
WWUS51 KBUF 162331
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
731 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

NYC009-162339-
/O.EXP.KBUF.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-200716T2330Z/
Cattaraugus NY-
731 PM EDT Thu Jul 16 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CATTARAUGUS COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 730 PM EDT...
    
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
allowed to expire. However, small hail and damaging winds remain 
likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the 
area. In addition, heavy rain is still possible with this area 
thunderstorms.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
western New York.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for 
these areas.

LAT...LON 4205 7870 4220 7871 4224 7841 4204 7841
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 268DEG 18KT 4215 7856 

$$

Mitchell

The office that day

Everything else NWS Buffalo, NY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 16, 4:11 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryBUF28 hr
Jul 16, 11:28 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFGenesee32 min
Jul 16, 11:57 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFGenesee33 min
Jul 16, 12:09 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF66 min
Jul 16, 12:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFMonroe27 min
Jul 16, 12:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFMonroe38 min
Jul 16, 1:42 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF93 min
Jul 16, 2:12 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF22 min
Jul 16, 2:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFOswego36 min
Jul 16, 3:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF41 min
Jul 16, 3:48 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF57 min
Jul 16, 3:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie53 min
Jul 16, 3:53 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF67 min
Jul 16, 4:07 PM EDTTornado WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie38 min
Jul 16, 4:08 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF53 min
Jul 16, 4:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFChautauqua62 min
Jul 16, 4:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFMonroe67 min
Jul 16, 4:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFErie46 min
Jul 16, 5:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFGenesee43 min
Jul 16, 5:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFCattaraugus, Erie63 min
Jul 16, 5:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie46 min
Jul 16, 5:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua24 min
Jul 16, 5:49 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFChautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming3 hr
Jul 16, 5:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBUFGenesee, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne55 min
Jul 16, 5:50 PM EDTTornado WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua40 min
Jul 16, 5:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFCattaraugus, Erie, Wyoming47 min
Jul 16, 6:32 PM EDTTornado WarningBUFCattaraugus28 min
Jul 16, 6:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua3 hr
Jul 16, 6:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus40 min
Jul 16, 7:15 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus4 hr
Jul 16, 7:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua43 min
Jul 16, 7:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus48 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in New York, 2020Every tornado warning in 2020Tornadoes in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.