New York tornado count reaches 21 after five storms in one night

The National Weather Service has confirmed five separate tornadoes touched down in New York during a single storm system on Wednesday, September 2. These confirmations bring the state's total tornado count for 2026 to 21.

In Seneca County, meteorologists identified two distinct paths. The strongest was an EF2 tornado with estimated winds reaching 115 mph, which traveled approximately seven miles through the Town of Fayette. A second EF1 tornado with winds up to 95 mph moved through the village of Waterloo toward Seneca Falls. In addition to the tornadoes, severe downburst winds recorded gusts of 76 mph caused significant tree damage in the region.

In Western New York, the National Weather Service in Buffalo confirmed three additional EF1 tornadoes. One such tornado occurred near East Shelby in Orleans County, featuring estimated winds of 105 mph.