First Tornado of 2026 Touches Down in New York

First Tornado of the Year Confirmed in New York

The National Weather Service confirmed the first tornado of the year in New York.

The twister touched down in Cattaraugus County in Western New York, at 3:43 PM on March 31, carving a path 1.4 miles long. It was only on the ground for 3 minutes, but that was plenty of time for it to do some damage.

The storm survey team determined the damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado, with estimated peak winds of 107 mph.

Storm Track: Lake Erie to Machias

The storm rolled off Lake Erie, moving east-southeast at about 40 mph.

It passed through Gowanda, NY, where people reported large, wind-driven hail piling up.

Get our free mobile app

As the storm moved into northern Cattaraugus County, a mid-level mesocyclone began spinning east of U.S. Route 219.

The tornado formed quickly southeast of Machias but was short-lived, dissipating east of Route 16 south of town.

Damage Along the Tornado Path

The tornado first touched down just west of Maple Valley Road, snapping and uprooting numerous trees near a few homes.

The path became more defined as it moved into the valley and creek bed between Maple Valley Road and Ashford Road, leaving a mix of snapped trees in a generally convergent pattern. Some trees even fell against the storm’s direction of travel.

Tornado Season

New York has seen its fair share of tornadoes. Just last year, seven twisters were reported in our area, including the tragic, deadly tornado that struck Clark Mills.

READ MORE: Trapped by the Storm, Freed by Heroes - A CNY Survival Miracle

And it looks like the 2026 season is starting earlier than usual — in 2025, the first tornado in New York didn’t form until June.

Let's just hope it's not like 2024 when New York saw a record 32 confirmed tornados, smashing the previous record of 25 set in 1992.