Tornadoes
Tornadoes are violent and rapidly rotating columns of air that form inside thunderstorms. They connect with the ground, via a funnel, to the cloud. Tornadoes typically last only a few minutes, but sometimes they can last for more than an hour. They can also travel short distances (0.5 miles), but some can be ‘on the ground’ for upwards of 100 miles.
From 1950-2016, 426 tornadoes have been recorded in New York. There have been no EF-5 (winds over 200 mph) tornado recorded in the state; however, there have been 3 EF-4 (166 - 200 mph) and 20 EF-3 (136 - 165 mph) rated tornadoes.
Source: Tornado History Project
Did You Know?
The first recorded F4 tornado to impact the state happened on August 28, 1973, and touched down southeast of Albany and crossed over into Massachusetts. The second F4 tornado first touched down in Pennsylvania and before making its way into New York on May 31, 1985. The remaining F4 tornado to touch down in New York in July 1989. It traveled 42 miles through Montgomery, Schoharie, Albany, and Greene Counties before it finally dissipated.