Watch: Tornado Rips Through Buffalo’s West Side

An EF-1 tornado touched down in Buffalo, NY not far from downtown. On Monday, August 5, 2024, a tornado touched down on Buffalo's west side.

How Are Tornados Classified?

Similar to hurricanes, tornados have their own classification system, which is based on their intensity. According to the National Weather Service,

EF0, EF1 (Weak) - Wind speeds of 65 to 110 mph
EF2, EF3 (Strong) - Wind speeds of 111 to 165 mph
EF4, EF5 (Violent) - Wind speeds of 166 to 200 mph or more

READ MORE: Tornado Touches Down In Chautauqua County

Watch: Damage Caused As Tornado Touches Down In Buffalo

The tornado ripped across the city, starting at the I-190 and Niagara Street traveling to Tupper and Oak Streets. It lasted approximately 6 minutes, beginning at 12:45 pm and ending at 12:51 pm. The path length of the twister was 1.4 miles and the maximum path width was 300 yards. The estimated maximum wind speed was 90 miles per hour. The National Weather Service in Buffalo said that a tornado warning wasn't issued due to a lack of data,

"Unfortunately for this tornado there was little to go off of on velocity data. This wasn't a classic signature on radar type tornado."

READ MORE: Western New York Has Had Wild & Weird Weather Lately

There have been quite a few tornados touching down in Western New York recently. A tornado has touched down in Chautauqua County as New York experienced severe weather due to Hurricane Beryl. One town in Chautauqua County has had a tornado touchdown, according to reports. At 12:15 pm on Wednesday, July 110, 2024, NZPChasers shared a photo on X that a tornado touched ground east of Forestville, New York.

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