Thunderstorm Wind — Ontario, New York

2025-04-29 · near Gypsum, Ontario, New York

Event narrative

The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey to examine damage in the Town of Phelps in Ontario County from April 29, 2025. Extensive hardwood tree damage was evident along McBurney Road just to the north of the New York State Thruway approximately two miles west of State Route 88. Tree damage continued down McBurney Road until about half of a mile before Falkey Road. Tree damage was evident along both sides of Stryker Road to the north of McBurney Road with multiple hardwood trees losing numerous large branches. In addition, there was extensive structural damage to multiple buildings on a farm at the corner of McBurney Road and Stryker Road. This included a large barn that was fully shifted off of its foundation. Another barn lost the majority of its metal roof. An old farm house adjacent to one of the barns experienced total structural collapse of the concrete block walls on two sides.

Further up Stryker Road, a residence experienced the partial loss of roof flashing material and the total loss of a garage. Debris from the garage and roof were strewn across Stryker Road to the east-northeast of the former structure and into the trees about one-quarter of a mile away.

Tree damage continued to the north and west along Stryker Road and along County Road 25. This included the uprooting of multiple hardwood trees in a mobile home park. Two of these very large trees fell onto residences in the mobile home park.

Based upon the lack of a concentrated damage path within a large swath of damage and by virtue of the fact the damage area was less than 2.5 miles in diameter, the National Weather Service storm survey team determined the damage was a result of straight line winds associated with a microburst.

Peak winds were estimated at 95 mph, the damage path length was 1.5 miles long and 1,850 yards wide. One injury was reported with this damage from the thunderstorms.

Wider weather episode

On Tuesday April 29, a cold front crossed the region causing showers and thunderstorms to develop. Conditions and timing were favorable ahead of the front as it approached the Buffalo forecast area with CAPE values of 1,000+ J/kg and bulk shear values of 40+ kts. Numerous reports of wind damage and severe hail were received for areas south and southeast of Lake Ontario.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.9784, -77.1132)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1263453. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.