Thunderstorm Wind — Seneca, New York

2024-07-10 · near Sheldrake Spgs, Seneca, New York

Event narrative

A core of a supercell thunderstorm moved over this location creating strong, damaging microburst winds. The strongest rotational core moved south of this location with eye witnesses reporting a funnel cloud moving over nearby Cayuga Lake. The most intense damaged observed was to a cattle barn, where the roof and wall structure was lofted approximately 250 feet eastward; maximum wind speeds were estimated here at 80 mph. Surrounding damage included numerous large tree branches snapped and few uprooted trees.

Wider weather episode

As a warm front lifted north across the area in the morning, central NY became primed with high humidity, shear, and instability. The remnants of Tropical System Beryl passed by to the north and east adding some extra spin to the atmosphere, so discrete supercells with damaging winds and tornadoes were the main concerns. As the system continued to move away, a cold front moved from west to east over the area during the evening and overnight hours leading to a line of additional thunderstorms, some severe again with damaging winds. Widespread tree and wire damage occurred across central NY with a microburst and tornado both surveyed.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.6774, -76.7308)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1192269. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.