New York, 2002

Tornadoes and Hail in New York, April 28, 2002

April 28, 2002 · NWS BUF · 16 events in 7 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed across the eastern Great Lakes region during the afternoon hours. 25" in diameter in parts of Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$670,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
16

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BUF wrote it up.

Thunderstorms developed across the eastern Great Lakes region during the afternoon hours. The thunderstorms produced hail up to 1.25" in diameter in parts of Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties. The thunderstorm downburst winds ripped down trees and power lines. Scattered power outages were reported. Several structures and automobiles were damaged by falling trees. Wind damage was reported in Randolph, Panama, Ellery, Chaffee, Cuba, Portageville, Dansville and Henrietta. The thunderstorms spawned two tornadoes. In the town of East Concord, Erie County, a weak tornado briefly touched down. Damage consisted of a portion of the back and roof of an outbuilding blown away, a pier tossed across a pond, and tree damage. Winds were estimated between 70 and 75 mph. Another tornado touched down in Belfast, Allegany county, and traveled 6.5 miles into the town of Angelica. The greatest structural damage occurred near White Creek Road in Belfast where a two-story home, garage, and barn were destroyed. Other damaged structures along the path included a silo, a second barn, and minor damage to a second home where the siding was ripped from an outer wall. Winds were estimated at 115-135 mph. No injuries were caused by either tornado.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Buffalo, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 28, 10:26 AM EST, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 10:26 AM EST, 2 hours 19 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1126 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

HAVE SPENT MORE TIME WITH ADJUSTING FORECAST AND UPDATING SPS ON SPC
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK.

LOW PRESSURE STORM OVER SOUTHERN MICHIGAN IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS
WESTERN NEW YORK...NOW THOUGHT A LITTLE NORTH OF THE SOUTHERN TIER.
SPC HAS UPDATED WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER FOR MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE AND
SLIGHT CHANCE MAINLY ELSEWHERE. HAVE ADJUSTED ALSO FOR CHANGING RAIN
TO SHOWERY WITH THUNDERSTORMS PUT IN FOR ALL COUNTIES OF COURSE
LEANING ON WESTERN AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES.

HAVE KEPT REST OF AFD AS IS FOR NOW.

FORECAST BECOMES COMPLICATED LATER TODAY AS MODELS SHOWING SURFACE
LOW CROSSING DIRECTLY OVER WESTERN NEW YORK. MODELS SHOWING SIMILAR
18Z POSITIONS NEAR DETROIT WITH A SLIGHT SOUTH OF EAST TRACK ACROSS
WESTERN NEW BY 00Z TONIGHT. 00Z NGM THE FARTHER SOUTH OF THE MODELS
BRINGING LOW ACROSS ERIE TO CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. 00Z ETA/AVN/MESOETA
AND MM5 ALL SHOWING LOW WILL TRACK WITHIN A FEW MILES OF BUFFALO...
THEN EAST INTO THE FINGER LAKES. THE MM5 IS THE FARTHEST NORTH...
BRINGING LOW RIGHT ALONG THE THRUWAY (JUST NORTH OF BUFFALO).

IN A CASE LIKE THIS...NO CLEAR CUT SOLUTION IS APPEARING SO WILL
SUGGEST A PATH SIMILAR TO MESOETA/ETA/AVN WHICH BRINGS LOW TO OR JUST
SOUTH OF BUFFALO. THIS SOLUTION WILL RESULT IN MOST OF THE AREA
REMAINING IN COOL SECTOR. WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER WILL LIKELY GET INTO
WARM SECTOR BY MID AFTERNOON. INSTABILITY AND THERMODYNAMIC
PARAMETERS MARGINAL FOR SEVERE CONVECTION...BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FORMING ACROSS OHIO AND
PENNSYLVANIA TO WARRANT SPC SLIGHT RISK OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHERN PORTIONS
OF THE WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER. ELEVATED CONVECTION POSSIBLE FROM
BUFFALO TO ROCHESTER...AIR MASS TOO STABLE FURTHER EAST FOR
CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT.

IF TRACK OF LOW DIFFERS JUST A FEW MILES FROM MODEL FORECASTS RESULT
WILL BE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND CHANCES FOR
CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY.

ONCE LOW PASSES EAST OF THE AREA TONIGHT...ANY LINGERING SHOWERS
COULD CHANGE TO SOME WET SNOW SHOWERS TOWARD MORNING AS COLDER AIR
SETTLES INTO THE AREA. GREATEST THREAT OF SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL
BE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS EAST OF LAKE ONTARIO.

VERY CHILL AIR MASS SETTLING OVER THE AREA ON MONDAY WITH
TEMPERATURES REMAINING IN THE 40S...AS 850 MB TEMPERATURES REMAIN
BELOW -5C THROUGH THE DAY.

.BUF...NONE.

SPS UPDATED FOR MODERATE RISK SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WESTERN SOUTHERN
TIER AND SLIGHT RISK MOSTLY EVERYWHERE ELSE EXCEPTT OSWEGO JEFFERSON
AND LEWIS WHERE GENERAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY.

TMA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 10:53 AM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes before
NYZ001>008-010>014-019>021-282100-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1153 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER INTO EVENING...
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE
REST OF WESTERN NEW YORK INTO EVENING EXCEPT OSWEGO,JEFFERSON AND
LEWIS COUNTIES WHERE GENERAL THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR.

DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE OVER SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN AND MOVING INTO
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN THIS MORNING WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE LOWER LAKES
AND ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK THIS AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT TRAILING
THE LOW WILL CROSS THE AREA BY MID AFTERNOON.

THERE IS A RISK THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE
LOW AND ALONG THE COLD FRONT COULD REACH SEVERE LIMITS. THE PRIMARY
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE FROM DAMAGING WINDS. THESE STORMS ARE
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP MAINLY BETWEEN 3 PM AND 7 PM ALTHOUGH
THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME TODAY AND EVENING.

SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED ACROSS THE WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER
THIS AFTERNOON OR OTHER AREAS OF WESTERN NEW YORK.

KEEP INFORMED AND MONITOR LATER FORECASTS BY TUNING INTO YOUR
FAVORITE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER
WATCHES AND WARNINGS. UPDATED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON OUR
WEBSITE AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/BUF.

EGR
Special weather statement, Apr 28, 10:58 AM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes before
NYZ001>008-010>014-019>021-282100-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1158 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER INTO EVENING...
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE
REST OF WESTERN NEW YORK INTO EVENING EXCEPT OSWEGO,JEFFERSON AND
LEWIS COUNTIES WHERE GENERAL THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR.

DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE OVER SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN AND MOVING INTO
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN THIS MORNING WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE LOWER LAKES
AND ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK THIS AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT TRAILING
THE LOW WILL CROSS THE AREA BY MID AFTERNOON.

THERE IS A RISK THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE
LOW AND ALONG THE COLD FRONT COULD REACH SEVERE LIMITS. THE PRIMARY
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE FROM DAMAGING WINDS. THESE STORMS ARE
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP MAINLY BETWEEN 3 PM AND 7 PM ALTHOUGH
THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME TODAY AND EVENING.

SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON.

KEEP INFORMED AND MONITOR LATER FORECASTS BY TUNING INTO YOUR
FAVORITE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER
WATCHES AND WARNINGS. UPDATED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON OUR
WEBSITE AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/BUF.

EGR
Local storm report, Apr 28, 12:16 PM EST, 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO, NY
116 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0105 PM    5 SW DUNKIRK              NY   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO

0110 PM    FREDONIA                  NY   .75 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY GENERAL PUBLIC
Local storm report, Apr 28, 12:18 PM EST, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO, NY
118 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0105 PM    5 SW DUNKIRK              NY   PEA SIZE HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO

0110 PM    FREDONIA                  NY   .50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY
Local storm report, Apr 28, 12:18 PM EST, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO, NY
118 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0105 PM    5 SW DUNKIRK              NY   PEA SIZE HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO

0110 PM    FREDONIA                  NY   .50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY

SAGE
Local storm report, Apr 28, 12:40 PM EST, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO, NY
140 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0105 PM    5 SW DUNKIRK              NY   PEA SIZE HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO

0110 PM    FREDONIA                  NY   .50 INCH HAIL
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     REPORTED BY

0135 PM    SILVER CREEK              NY
04/28/02   CHAUTAUQUA                     MARBLE SIZE HAIL

SAGE

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Erie

When
April 28, 12:45 PM EST
Where
Erie County, Evans Center
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.650, -79.033

Hail, Chautauqua

When
April 28, 1:35 PM EST
Where
Chautauqua County, Frewsburg
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.050, -79.167

Hail, Cattaraugus

When
April 28, 1:40 PM EST
Where
Cattaraugus County, Randolph
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.167, -78.983

Hail, Erie

When
April 28, 1:40 PM EST
Where
Erie County, Eden
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.650, -78.883

Tornado, Erie

When
April 28, 1:50 PM EST
Where
Erie County, East Concord
Rating
F0
Path length
0.7 mi
Path width
25 yd
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.550, -78.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Cattaraugus

When
April 28, 2:00 PM EST
Where
Cattaraugus County, Randolph
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.167, -78.983

Thunderstorm Wind, Chautauqua

When
April 28, 2:05 PM EST
Where
Chautauqua County, Panama
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates
42.067, -79.483

Thunderstorm Wind, Erie

When
April 28, 2:15 PM EST
Where
Erie County, Chaffee
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
42.567, -78.467

Hail, Wyoming

When
April 28, 2:29 PM EST
Where
Wyoming County, Warsaw
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.733, -78.133

Thunderstorm Wind, Allegany

When
April 28, 2:35 PM EST
Where
Allegany County, Cuba
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.217, -78.267

Hail, Cattaraugus

When
April 28, 2:35 PM EST
Where
Cattaraugus County, Portville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.033, -78.333

Tornado, Allegany

When
April 28, 2:50 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Allegany County, Belfast
Rating
F2
Path length
6.5 mi
Path width
300 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.333, -78.117

Thunderstorm Wind, Wyoming

When
April 28, 2:55 PM EST
Where
Wyoming County, Portageville
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.567, -78.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Livingston

When
April 28, 3:05 PM EST
Where
Livingston County, Dansville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.567, -77.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Allegany

When
April 28, 3:15 PM EST
Where
Allegany County, West Almond
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
42.300, -77.883

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
April 28, 4:10 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, Henrietta
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
43.067, -77.633

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New York in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for New York, 2002Warnings in New York, April 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5288980, 5288981, 5288982, 5288983, 5288984, 5288985, 5288986, 5288987, 5288988, 5288989, 5288990, 5288991, 5288992, 5288993, 5288994, 5288995.