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NWS Confirms EF-3 Tornado in Southern Lewis County
Monday Evening
Published: August 08, 2023
at 08:15 p.m.
By: Statement from the National Weather Service
Public Information Statement
National Weather
Service Buffalo NY
739 PM EDT Tue
Aug 8 2023
...NWS
Damage Survey for August 7, 2023 Tornado Event...
Rating: EF-3
Estimated Peak
Wind: 140 mph
Path Length
/statute/: 16.0 miles
Path Width
/maximum/: 700 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: August 7, 2023
Start Time: 7:42 PM EDT
Start
Location: Town of Lewis, Lewis
County, NY
Start Lat/Lon: 43.4689/-75.5029
End Date: August 7, 2023
End Time: 8:14 PM EDT
End Location: Town of Turin, Lewis County, NY
End Lat/Lon: 43.6473,-75.4208
The National
Weather Service in Buffalo completed a storm survey in Lewis County for
damage that is confirmed to be tornadic from Monday evening. Initial damage
occurred in the Town of Lewis to the west of West Leyden along Mud Lake
Road that included uprooted and snapped hardwood trees, significant damage
to two homes that included roof uplift and near total removal, a wall
blowout of a garage, and the complete destruction and shift from the foundation
of a barn. Damage
in the initial portion of the track generally peaked at EF-2. The tornado then continued northward and crossed Fish
Creek Road with damage to another home that removed the
roof and caused significant damage in the walls of the second level of the
home. It also did significant damage to a second barn and snapped many
hardwood trees.
After moving
north of Fish Creek Road, the tornado crossed a large swamp with evidence of
full defoliation of a few hardwood trees in the swamp. Tornadic damage become less continuous north of this point without good
road access to the track through swampy land.
Convergent track
damage again resumed well southwest of the Town of Turin, hitting the town
water tower. It then continued northward as it paralleled West Road.
Continuous uprooting, snapping, and occasional defoliation of hard and
softwood trees was evident for a long portion of the track until it reached
Snow Ridge Ski Resort.
Upon reaching
Snow Ridge Ski Resort, tree damage increased to snapping of
hardwood trees at the rootline and some
defoliation. On the ski resort land, all of the
chair lift metal cables failed, some chair lift structures were overturned
or damaged, and the track of damage greatly widened as the storm continued
north- northeastward. The greatest damage of the entire track was from Snow
Ridge Ski Resort to
the West Wind Motel in Turin. Several structures saw completed roof
failures, interior wall failures, window failures, and a one multi-story
building was shifted from
its foundation
with its entire roof removed.
The tornado lifted after affecting the West Wind
Motel with damage ceasing from this point. As a result of the survey, the
National Weather Service rates this tornado EF-3 with estimated maximum wind speeds
of 140 mph, a track length of approximately 16 miles, and a maximum width
of 700 yards.
The National
Weather Service extends its thanks to Lewis County Emergency Management and
the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services along with multiple fire chiefs and legislators for
their assistance in today`s survey.
&&
EF Scale: The
Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following
categories:
EF0...Weak......65
to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86
to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111
to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136
to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166
to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200
mph
NOTE:
The information
in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review
of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.
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