Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Fierce winds, torrential downpours and lightning were the order of the afternoon Thursday as a line of storms crossed the western New York region.
Forecasters and investigators from the Buffalo office of the National Weather Service determined that a tornado did touch down in the town of Portland in Chautauqua County on Thursday.
The National Weather Service says a funnel cloud developed on the south side of Barnes Road in Portland. The tornado touched down in a wooded area near the property at 6339 Barnes. A 60X80 foot garage was flattened. A 53 foot semi trailer was lifted and rotated and set down about 150 feet away. The tornado then destroyed the majority of an 80x50 foot barn with only the front facade remaining.
Storm damage to a family owned farm here in Portland (about 10mi outside of Fredonia). The owner’s friend tells me no one was hurt and all horses are accounted for. She says the family has owned the farm for 7 years. More tonight at 11 on @WKBW pic.twitter.com/tfaYa6ljN8
— Gilat Melamed (@gilat_melamed)
July 17, 2020 The tornado then traveled across Barnes Road where about 275 yards away half of the second story of a barn was torn away, and the damaged two barns on Thayer Road, 500 yards away. The tornado continued another 1,500 yards with the last tree damage visible toward the east end of Farr Road.
No one was hurt.
The tornado is an EF-1, with maximum speeds of 10 0mph.
