BUFFALO, N.Y. — The National Weather Service Storm Survey Team examined several reports of damage in the Town of Wirt and Friendship in Allegany County, after a tornado warning was issued there just before 10 p.m. Friday.
The damage found was reportedly consistent with a tornado, with several areas of extensive tree damage.
The Allegany County tornado was rated as an EF-1, estimated peak wind at 100 mph, path length six miles, path width 200 yards. No one was injured.
The start time was 9:34 p.m. in the Town of Wirt, about 5.3 miles south/southwest of Friendship. It ended at 9:50 p.m. about 3.5 miles southeast of Friendship. The tornado was not on the ground for the entire length, especially midpoint.
A report from the National Weather Service Storm Survey Team said, "The first instance of damage noted near the touchdown point was several hardwood and softwood trees uprooted and snapped in a heavily forested area along Clair Carrier Road. The tornado then continued in a northeast direction and crossed Burdick Road, producing minor tree damage. The tornado then intensified as it crossed County Route 34 and produced extensive tree damage with several dozen hardwood and softwood trees snapped or uprooted along a concentrated path, including several large trees."
The report continued with the survey damage.
"The tornado touched down again in a heavily forested area near a residence on Wells Road, with several dozen softwood trees snapped or uprooted," the report said. "Most of the trees in this area were pine. One tree fell on a nearby residence and produced minor roof damage, but none of the structures in the area had any direct damage from wind. The tornado continued in a northeast direction and weakened, with sporadic minor tree damage noted along East Hill Road and County Route 31. The damage ended in a heavily forested area to the northeast of County Route 31.
The data and summary within this report is preliminary.
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph