Alert archive / New York / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Buffalo, NY

March 31, 2026Allegany County, Cattaraugus County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this tornado warning at Mar 31, 2026, 3:43 PM EDT for Allegany County, Cattaraugus County, New York. It was in force for 32 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 31, 2026, 3:43 PM EDT (19:43 UTC)
Expired
Mar 31, 2026, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Buffalo, NY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.25 in

Counties Allegany County, NY, Cattaraugus County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:47 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 31, 3:43 PM EDTTORNADO4 Sw Lime Lake-Machias, NYAn EF-1 tornado has been confirmed for 2 SW of Machias, NY. Estimated peak winds of 107 mph.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 31, 2:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 65 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 2026-03-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 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 2026-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 290 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
731 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
290 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
283 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

621 
WFUS51 KBUF 311943
TORBUF
NYC003-009-312015-
/O.NEW.KBUF.TO.W.0001.260331T1943Z-260331T2015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
343 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Cattaraugus County in western New York...
  Northwestern Allegany County in western New York...

* Until 415 PM EDT.

* At 343 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Franklinville, or 18 miles northeast of Salamanca,
  moving east at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Franklinville, Belfast, Rushford, Houghton, Caneadea, Farmersville
  Station, Hardy Corners, Fillmore, and Lime Lake-Machias.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4236 7857 4245 7859 4252 7811 4226 7811
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 281DEG 41KT 4238 7851 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

PP
2 follow-up statements
092 
WWUS51 KBUF 311958
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
358 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

NYC003-009-312015-
/O.CON.KBUF.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260331T2015Z/
Cattaraugus NY-Allegany NY-
358 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL CATTARAUGUS AND NORTHWESTERN ALLEGANY COUNTIES...

At 357 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Franklinville, or 20 miles north of Olean, moving
east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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.

Locations impacted include...
Franklinville, Belfast, Rushford, Houghton, Caneadea, Farmersville
Station, Hardy Corners, and Fillmore.

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 4234 7850 4248 7839 4252 7811 4226 7811
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 279DEG 36KT 4237 7840 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

Mitchell
834 
WWUS51 KBUF 312020
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
420 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

NYC003-009-312028-
/O.EXP.KBUF.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260331T2015Z/
Cattaraugus NY-Allegany NY-
420 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CATTARAUGUS AND NORTHWESTERN
ALLEGANY COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire.  However, small
hail and gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

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 
northern Allegany and far southern Livingston counties.

&&

LAT...LON 4234 7850 4248 7839 4252 7811 4226 7811
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 281DEG 41KT 4233 7812 

$$

Mitchell

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 31, 3:46 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryBUF9 hr
Mar 31, 9:57 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFGenesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wyoming98 min
Mar 31, 1:14 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningBUFJefferson, Lewis, Oneida35 hr
Mar 31, 2:27 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF63 min
Mar 31, 2:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming64 min
Mar 31, 3:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus, Erie, Livingston, Wyoming49 min
Mar 31, 3:32 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming11 hr
Mar 31, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany, Livingston, Wyoming39 min
Mar 31, 4:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany18 min
Mar 31, 4:52 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus, Livingston7 hr
Mar 31, 6:25 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFErie, Wyoming6 hr
Mar 31, 6:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFChautauqua47 min
Mar 31, 6:59 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFMonroe48 hr
Mar 31, 7:02 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF43 min
Mar 31, 7:16 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFLivingston, Ontario6 hr
Mar 31, 7:26 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF33 min
Mar 31, 7:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFChautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming37 min
Mar 31, 7:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFAllegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming33 min
Mar 31, 7:59 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningBUFErie7 hr

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.