The National Weather Service has confirmed two tornadoes from Monday, July 15, 2024, in the city of Canandaigua and the town of Virgil.
As always, my thoughts and prayers are with those who experienced damage from these storms or had traumatic experiences being caught in these storms. I have heard from many how scary these situations were, and that is certainly something I respect.
Please feel free to contact me if you need someone to talk to about these storms.
Canandaigua Tornado
The tornado in Canandaigua was very small and short, estimated at 75 yards wide and on the ground for 0.7 miles along Route 20, roughly between Canandaigua Urgent Care and Wegmans/Petco. Maximum winds from the tornado were estimated at 75 mph.
About three minutes after the tornado, a microburst hit the same general area. The microburst produced damage over an area 1000 yards wide and 1 mile long. Winds with the microburst were estimated at 95 mph.
This is another reminder that microbursts from severe thunderstorms can produce damage equal to or greater than a tornado and typically cover a larger area. The tornadoes get all the press, but you are more likely to be impacted by a microburst in the Finger Lakes!
Virgil Tornado
The Virgil tornado has it’s own fascinating facts. This tornado was on the ground for 7.5 miles, but was again quite narrow at just 175 yards wide. Winds were estimated at 80 mph, again lower than the microburst that hit the same general area in June.
Even more interesting is the similarity in location and path to a tornado last August. In fact, the two tornado paths likely crossed somewhere near Greek Peak, less than a year apart. This is a rare feat for anywhere, let alone in the Finger Lakes.
July 10 Storm Survey Update
Lastly, I never got the chance to update on last week’s storm surveys. The NWS confirmed a microburst with 80 mph winds near Lodi on Wednesday, July 10th. Damage cleanup prevented any further conclusions in Moravia and Homer.
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