Two tornadoes cut separate paths across northern Seneca County during Wednesday night’s destructive storms, including an EF2 with winds reaching 115 mph near Fayette and an EF1 that tracked through Waterloo before ending in Seneca Falls, the National Weather Service confirmed.
The tornadoes were embedded within a much broader swath of wind damage that toppled trees, damaged utility infrastructure, blocked roads and contributed to widespread power outages. The Weather Service said severe downburst winds also struck the area between the two tornado tracks.
EF2 tornado tracked through Fayette
NWS meteorologists confirmed the stronger tornado after an extensive ground survey Thursday. The EF2 began about a mile south of Rose Hill, just west of Route 96A, and traveled through the town of Fayette before ending nearly 2 miles south of Canoga Springs.
The agency estimated the Fayette-area tornado’s path at roughly 7 miles and its strongest winds at 115 mph. The final survey statement replaced an earlier preliminary finding that had identified a distinct tornado path near Fayette without assigning a rating or estimating its strength.
EF1 moved through Waterloo into Seneca Falls
A second tornado began a few miles west-northwest of Waterloo and moved into the village, where residents reported extensive tree and utility damage. The tornado weakened as it continued east and ended in Seneca Falls, according to the NWS.
Meteorologists rated that tornado an EF1, with winds reaching 95 mph. Its path extended between 6 and 7 miles, connecting the concentrated damage west of Waterloo, through the village and into Seneca Falls.
The tornadoes were not responsible for all of the destruction. The Weather Service found severe downburst winds throughout the line of storms, producing widespread tree damage between the two more concentrated tornado paths.
A 76 mph gust recorded at the Waterloo NYS Mesonet site helped document the intensity of those straight-line winds. The station is about 2 miles south-southwest of Seneca Falls and was positioned between the two tornado tracks, the agency said.
Storm left widespread damage across northern Seneca County
Damage extended across Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Fayette and nearby communities after the storms moved through Wednesday evening. Reports received by FingerLakes1.com described trees falling across roads and properties, damaged poles and wires, structural damage and water entering numerous basements.
The Town of Seneca Falls Police Department said some sections of the community were hit especially hard. Police officers, firefighters, highway crews, utility workers and other emergency personnel spent the night assessing damage, answering calls and working around electrical hazards.
Seneca County issued a no unnecessary travel advisory for the northern portion of the county at 10 p.m. Wednesday as debris, flooding and downed utility lines made some roads hazardous or impassable. The advisory was lifted at 1:25 p.m. Thursday after most conditions improved, though officials said a small section of Waterloo remained completely impassable at that time.
Motorists were urged to continue obeying closures and barricades and to give cleanup crews room to work. Police also reminded drivers to treat any traffic signal without power as a four-way stop.
Utility crews work toward Friday restoration
NYSEG and Rochester Gas & Electric said crews would continue working overnight Thursday and through Friday, with service expected to be restored to all remaining affected customers by 11 p.m. Friday.
NYSEG reported Thursday night that it had restored power to more than 46,000 customers since the storms. About 4,300 customers remained without service in the company’s Geneva Division, which includes Ontario, Wayne, Seneca and Yates counties. Fallen trees had damaged electrical equipment and blocked some roads needed by utility crews and emergency responders.
Dry ice and bottled water were scheduled to be available Friday at the Waterloo Fire Department, 39 E. Water St. NYSEG had not announced a distribution time in its Thursday night update.
Nearly 40,000 RG&E customers also experienced service interruptions after Wednesday’s storms. About 1,300 customers remained without power Thursday night in the company’s Central and Fillmore divisions, which include parts of Monroe, Orleans, Allegany, Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties.
Downed lines and flooded basements remain hazards
Residents should stay at least 30 feet from downed power lines and assume every line is energized. NYSEG customers can report a downed wire or electrical emergency at 1-800-572-1131 or call 911.
Officials also warned residents to stay out of flooded basements when energized wiring or outlets may be present and never drive through standing water. Anyone inside a vehicle touched by a downed wire should remain in the vehicle and wait for help unless fire or another immediate danger makes that impossible.
The Weather Service said it expected to release additional survey details Friday after completing further analysis of damage data and photographs. Local cleanup and utility restoration work continued as officials assessed the full extent of the storm’s impact.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.