Alert archive / New York / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Binghamton, NY

July 21, 2026Otsego County, New York

NWS Binghamton, NY issued this tornado warning at Jul 21, 2026, 2:22 PM EDT for Otsego County, New York. It was in force for 23 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 21, 2026, 2:22 PM EDT (18:22 UTC)
Expired
Jul 21, 2026, 2:45 PM EDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Binghamton, NY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

County Otsego County, NY

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:24 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 21, 2:06 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 266 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, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-07-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-07-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 135 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1211 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
135 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
172 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Binghamton, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 21, 2:11 PM EDT, 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. Some of the thunderstorms may contain gusty to damaging winds and heavy rain. 2) Showers will linger into at least the first half of Wednesday. High pressure returns for the rest of the week, with very pleasant weather conditions expected.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 2:11 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
211 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Tornado Watch has been issued for counties along and east of
I-81 until 9pm.

Adjustments were made to PoPs to better represent current
precipitation and expected evolution through this afternoon.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected this
afternoon and evening. Some of the thunderstorms may contain
gusty to damaging winds and heavy rain.

2) Showers will linger into at least the first half of
Wednesday. High pressure returns for the rest of the week, with
very pleasant weather conditions expected.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...

***UPDATE***

Low level wind shear along a warm front over the area is
allowing for increased tornado chances across eastern portions
of the CWA. Several tornado warnings have been issued in the
past 30 min, with 1 report of a tornado. Because of this, a
Tornado Watch has been issued.

---
Complicated setup today with many factors playing into
thunderstorm development and severe storm chances.

A strong shortwave trough moving into the western portion of the
area is driving the development of scattered showers and
storms. Cirrus blow off from storms earlier over OH has limited
the instability over this region, allowing for a few weak
storms but mostly just periods of moderate to heavy rain. East
of this area, we have seen more breaks in the clouds which has
allowed stronger CAPE to develop, with values above 1000 j/kg
currently growing from a N/S line bisecting the the Central
Finger Lakes and to the east. 0-6 bulk shear values are
currently in the 35-40kt range and should remain around this
range through the afternoon hours thanks to the strong shortwave
overhead. With the current storms moving into a much more
favorable environment, we expect some of the storms to grow and
become severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain and tornadoes
will be the main threats as the afternoon progresses.
Hodographs show tornadic signatures, with multiple swirls
located along a line of storms moving into Otsego, Delaware and
Sullivan counties. Tornadoes will be possible as these storms
develop through the afternoon hours.

Guidance suggests we may have a brief lull in activity late
this afternoon and early evening. This would bring a potential
for some clearing that could reinforce some early evening
surface instability. At the same time, a 2nd shortwave
currently over eastern MI is progged to track over the region.
This synoptic lift combined with surface instability and
increased 0-6km shear of 40-50kts would allow for more severe
storms to develop. The big question is will we get enough
clearing to introduce sufficient CAPE. If we do not and the CAPE
remains under 1000 j/kg, the amount of severe storms would be
lower but severe chances will remain given the high shear values
and synoptic lift provided by the transiting shortwave.

Heavy rains will also accompany these storms, allowing for a
potential for isolated flash flooding where multiple rounds of
storms impact an area. Currently, NEPA has a heightened chance
for isolated flash flooding with storms currently rolling
through and the expected 2nd round of storms later this
afternoon and evening.

The severe threat looks to end late this evening. Scattered rain
showers are going to linger through the night, especially north
of the Southern Tier as the trough axis moves over the area.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

With the trough lingering overhead into Wednesday, we expect
some scattered light rain showers to remain streaming across the
area.

After the trough axis moves east of the area, cool Canadian air
is expected to move into the region and plant itself through the
rest of the work week as high pressure dominates the weather
pattern. Wednesday will be the coolest, with highs in the upper
60s to mid 70s. We will see a slight warming trend through the
rest of the week, with low to mid 80s by the weekend. Showers
and storms may return Sunday or Monday as a trough tries to work
its way into the region, but it will depend on if the ridge
overhead weakens or flattens enough to allow for precip to move
in.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected across the
area this afternoon and early evening. Tempos were added at each
TAF site for IFR/MVFR thunderstorms, generally from 19-23z or
00z. BGM is already getting a heavy thunderstorm, but this will
move away between 18-18:30z. Also added in PROB30 groups at RME,
SYR and ITH in the 23z to 03/04z timeframe for a possible second
round of thunderstorms, with restrictions as the next front
pushes in from the northwest.

After the bulk of the showers and thunderstorms move east of
the area in the mid to late evening, a deck of lower clouds is
expected to move in and result in at least MVFR restrictions
(mainly after 03Z). IFR restrictions will be possible late
tonight/early Wednesday morning at some of the TAF sites (RME,
and perhaps AVP).

Winds will generally be south-southwesterly throughout the TAF
period. Winds will be around 10kts and occasional gusts up to
20kts this afternoon. Locally higher gusts are possible in any
thunderstorms.

Outlook:

Wednesday Afternoon...Lingering ceiling restrictions possible;
otherwise becoming VFR.

Thursday through Sunday...Mainly VFR; morning fog at KELM may
result in restrictions.

&&

.BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...None.
NY...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...JTC
AVIATION...MJM
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 2:14 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
214 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

NYZ009-036-037-045-046-056-057-062-221815-
Northern Oneida-Madison-Southern Oneida-Chenango-Otsego-Broome-
Delaware-Sullivan-
214 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...TORNADO WATCH 507 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Tornado Watch.

Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move through the
region. Thunderstorms have the potential to produce to gusty to
locally damaging winds and heavy rainfall and tornadoes.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any
information about severe weather to the NWS.

NYZ015>018-022>025-044-055-221815-
Yates-Seneca-Southern Cayuga-Onondaga-Steuben-Schuyler-Chemung-
Tompkins-Cortland-Tioga-
214 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central New York.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move through the
region. Thunderstorms have the potential to produce to gusty to
locally damaging winds and heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any
information about severe weather to the NWS.

PAZ039-040-043-044-047-048-072-221815-
Susquehanna-Northern Wayne-Wyoming-Lackawanna-Luzerne-Pike-
Southern Wayne-
214 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...TORNADO WATCH 507 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Tornado Watch.

Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move through the
region. Some of thunderstorms will become severe with damaging
winds, tornadoes, hail and heavy rainfall as the main threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any
information about severe weather to the NWS.

PAZ038-221815-
Bradford-
214 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Pennsylvania.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move through the
region. Some of thunderstorms will become severe with damaging
winds, hail and heavy rainfall as the main threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed. Please relay any
information about severe weather to the NWS.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 21, 12:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
1242 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1222 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 N Southport           42.08N 76.81W
07/21/2026                   Chemung            NY   911 Call Center

            Large tree reported down on a car. Wires
            down. Time estimated by radar.

&&

MJM
Local storm report, Jul 21, 1:34 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
134 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0104 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SW Apalachin          42.03N 76.22W
07/21/2026                   Tioga              NY   911 Call Center

            Tree down on wires along Montrose Turnpike
            as per dispatch feed. Radar-estimated time.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 21, 12:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMBroome, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Tioga, Tompkins58 min
Jul 21, 1:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMBroome, Chenango, Cortland, Tioga, Tompkins65 min
Jul 21, 1:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMBroome49 min
Jul 21, 1:40 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMBroome, Chenango, Otsego35 min
Jul 21, 1:44 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMBroome, Chenango, Delaware31 min
Jul 21, 1:53 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMSullivan37 min
Jul 21, 2:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatBGMBroome, Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Otsego49 min
Jul 21, 2:29 PM EDTTornado WarningBGMSullivan46 min
Jul 21, 2:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBGMSullivan4 hr
Jul 21, 3:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatBGMSullivan35 min
Jul 21, 1:49 PM EDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBGMWayne26 min
Jul 21, 3:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBGMLuzerne17 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in New York, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

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.