NEW YORK — Two EF1 tornadoes touched down around 8 p.m. near the southern end of Letchworth State Park. One touched down at 7:59 p.m. in Castile, traveled 1.25 miles in about one minute, and had estimated peak winds of 110 mph. A second touched down at 8 p.m. traveled 1.22 miles in two minutes, and had estimated peak winds of 105 mph.

Weather Service surveyors reported severe damage on the eastern side of the gorge near East Parade Grounds Road, including dozens of large hardwood trees snapped or uprooted. A cluster of about six large locust trees was snapped at the trunk, with several falling onto a large park pavilion that sustained damage. Tree damage was reported in Genesee Falls and near the Portageville entrance to Letchworth State Park, including numerous large trees uprooted or snapped on the slope between Park Road and the Genesee River.

Five other tornadoes touched down in New York on Sept. 2: an EF1 in Olcott (Niagara County), an EF1 in Shelby (Orleans County), an EF1 in Alexander (Genesee County), an EF1 in Waterloo (Seneca County), and an EF2 in Fayette (Seneca County). The Waterloo EF1 touched down at 8:21 p.m. just west of Waterloo, traveled west for 6.69 miles in nine minutes, and had peak winds of 95 mph. Damage included numerous damaged and uprooted trees, as well as a damaged hangar and overturned aircraft at Finger Lakes Regional Airport.

Why It Matters

Twenty-three confirmed tornadoes have touched down in New York so far in 2026, according to the National Weather Service. A record 32 tornadoes touched down in New York in 2024, including two EF2 tornadoes. Twenty-five tornadoes were recorded in New York in 1992, and 23 were recorded in 1998.

Timeline

The most recent was SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, declared for an incident beginning 2010-09-16 (disaster 1943). A record 32 tornadoes touched down in New York in 2024, including two EF2 tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado with winds up to 115 mph that tracked through the Town of Fayette and an EF1 tornado with winds up to 95 mph that began west-northwest of Waterloo on September 2, 2026. The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes in Seneca County on September 2, 2026, including an EF2 tornado with winds up to 115 mph and an EF1 tornado with winds up to 95 mph. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado in Fayette and an EF1 tornado in Waterloo on September 2, 2026, as part of a broader event that included two confirmed tornadoes in Seneca County. Seven tornadoes touched down in Western and Central New York on Sept. 2, 2026, according to the National Weather Service. Two EF1 tornadoes touched down around 8 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2026, near the southern end of Letchworth State Park and its border. Five other tornadoes touched down in New York on Sept. 2, 2026: an EF1 in Olcott (Niagara County), an EF1 in Shelby (Orleans County), an EF1 in Alexander (Genesee County), an EF1 in Waterloo (Seneca County), and an EF2 in Fayette (Seneca County).

What's New

National Weather Service is U.S. forecasting agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Central New York is the central region of upper New York State, United States. Letchworth State Park is State park in New York, United States.

How Sources Differ

The National Weather Service preliminary report stated that the Fayette EF2 tornado touched down at 8:23 p.m. near Route 96A, traveled south for 7.76 miles to Canoga Springs in 13 minutes, and had peak winds of 115 mph. The National Weather Service preliminary report stated that the Waterloo EF1 tornado touched down at 8:21 p.m. just west of Waterloo, traveled west for 6.69 miles in nine minutes, and had peak winds of 95 mph.