Alert archive / New York / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Buffalo, NY

July 18, 2026Ontario County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this tornado warning at Jul 18, 2026, 1:05 PM EDT for Ontario County, New York. It was in force for 40 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
Jul 18, 2026, 1:05 PM EDT (17:05 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2026, 1:45 PM EDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Buffalo, NY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Ontario County, NY

The radar

The Binghamton radar (KBGM), 119 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:09 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
Jul 18, 1:34 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 N Geneva, NYTree down, partially across Gambee Road.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 129 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 2026-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 176 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 2026-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 173 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
176 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-138 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
958 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
173 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
212 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

261 
WFUS51 KBUF 181705
TORBUF
NYC069-181745-
/O.NEW.KBUF.TO.W.0005.260718T1705Z-260718T1745Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
105 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Ontario County in western New York...

* Until 145 PM EDT.

* At 105 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Canandaigua, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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...
  Geneva, Canandaigua, Clifton Springs, Phelps, Bloomfield,
  Farmington, Gorham, East Bloomfield, Manchester, and Shortsville.

This includes Interstate 90 between exits 43 and 44.
 
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 4290 7744 4300 7738 4295 7696 4287 7696
      4287 7698 4286 7698 4284 7697 4276 7698
      4276 7710
TIME...MOT...LOC 1705Z 287DEG 32KT 4294 7734 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Brothers
3 follow-up statements
597 
WWUS51 KBUF 181716
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
116 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NYC069-181745-
/O.CON.KBUF.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260718T1745Z/
Ontario NY-
116 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO COUNTY...

At 115 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Canandaigua, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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...
Geneva, Canandaigua, Clifton Springs, Phelps, Gorham, Manchester,
Shortsville, Seneca Castle, Seneca Lake State Park, and Hall.

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 4288 7734 4297 7726 4295 7696 4287 7696
      4287 7698 4286 7698 4284 7697 4276 7698
      4276 7710
TIME...MOT...LOC 1715Z 287DEG 32KT 4291 7722 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Brothers
249 
WWUS51 KBUF 181729
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
129 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NYC069-181745-
/O.CON.KBUF.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260718T1745Z/
Ontario NY-
129 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO COUNTY...

At 129 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Geneva, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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...
Geneva, Seneca Castle, Seneca Lake State Park, and West Junius.

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 4283 7715 4295 7710 4295 7696 4287 7696
      4287 7698 4286 7698 4284 7697 4276 7698
TIME...MOT...LOC 1729Z 287DEG 32KT 4287 7705 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Brothers
149 
WWUS51 KBUF 181741
SVSBUF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
141 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NYC069-181751-
/O.EXP.KBUF.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260718T1745Z/
Ontario NY-
141 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
145 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4283 7715 4295 7710 4295 7696 4287 7696
      4287 7698 4286 7698 4284 7697 4276 7698
TIME...MOT...LOC 1741Z 287DEG 32KT 4284 7693 

$$

Brothers

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 3:46 AM EDTBeach Hazards StatementBUFCayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Jefferson, Monroe, Orleans and 2 more26 hr
Jul 18, 10:43 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF51 min
Jul 18, 11:41 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFGenesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans64 min
Jul 18, 12:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF56 min
Jul 18, 12:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFLivingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne70 min
Jul 18, 12:55 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBUFGenesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans6 hr
Jul 18, 1:06 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF54 min
Jul 18, 1:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFGenesee, Niagara, Orleans65 min
Jul 18, 1:59 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF46 min
Jul 18, 2:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFErie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans81 min
Jul 18, 2:44 PM EDTTornado WarningBUFGenesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans31 min
Jul 18, 3:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFLivingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne65 min
Jul 18, 3:32 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF43 min
Jul 18, 3:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFErie, Genesee, Livingston, Wyoming47 min
Jul 18, 3:54 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBUFMonroe15 hr
Jul 18, 4:05 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBUFLivingston, Monroe, Ontario4 hr
Jul 18, 4:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBUFCattaraugus, Chautauqua50 min
Jul 18, 4:35 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBUF85 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.