JUNE 2

1998

Severe thunderstorms swept across the entire region during the late afternoon and evening hours. The storms produced hailstones up to 1.5". Although the stones were not excessively large, what was unusual for the area was the number and areal coverage of the reported hail. It was the first time three-quarter inch hail had been observed at the Buffalo Airport since record keeping began there. The hail severely damaged the cherry crop in Niagara County. Hail was reported also in Kiantone, Varysburg, Newfane, Batavia and Ellicottville. In addition to the large amount of hail, the thunderstorms produced damaging winds which downed trees and power lines and poles. A 59 mph wind gust was reported in Cuba, Allegany county. Power outages were scattered across the entire region. Falling trees blocked roads and damaged homes and property in Alden, Wellsville, Cuba and Cheektowaga. Funnel clouds were sighted, but did not touch down, in Wellsville, Allegany County and Nunda, Livingston County. The heavy rains that accompanied the thunderstorms produced localized flooding in Cheektowaga and Depew.

A tornado struck Wyoming county and did substantial damage to numerous structures and completely destroyed several others. Much of the damage done to this rural area included snapped and downed trees and wires. The initial touchdown of the tornado occurred in Orangeville just east of Orangeville Center Road. As the tornado moved east a barn was leveled on Hermitage Road in Orangeville. On Liberty Street a hanger with three airplanes and a helicopter inside, was destroyed and all four craft sustained damage. Also on Liberty Street a barn and modular home were leveled. The tornado passed south of the Village of Warsaw damaging two houses, a barn and a garage on Keeney Street. Another barn was leveled on Silver Springs Road. The tornado then followed near the border of the Towns of Perry and Castile damaging several sheds and docks as it crossed Silver Lake. The tornado touched down in the Village of Perry where it caused minor damage to eight mobile homes and major damage to five others. Several larger buildings also sustained considerable damage in the Village of Perry. The final traces of the tornado occurred on Middle Reservation Road in Castile where several buildings of a fertilizer plant were leveled. The total path length was 15 miles although the tornado was not on the ground the entire time. This was a slow moving tornado and was viewed by numerous witnesses. Several eyewitnesses reported seeing multiple vortices and in addition to being confirmed by amateur video of the tornado, from the aerial survey conducted several sections of the damage path supported this. No injuries or deaths resulted from the storm--remarkable since some of the buildings which sustained substantial damage were occupied when the tornado struck.

1999

Thunderstorms developed during the early afternoon hours. The storms reached severe limits producing wind gusts which downed trees and power lines in Amherst, Erie county. About 3000 customers were without power as a result of downed power lines. Torrential rains also accompanied the storms. Localized urban flooding resulted as storm sewers were unable to carry away the heavy downpours.

2000

Thunderstorms…Thunderstorms moved across Allegany county during the afternoon hours downing trees and power lines in Almond and Belfast. Power outages were reported.