Illinois tornado causes damage. See video
A tornado ripped through central Illinois on Wednesday, June 17, causing damage, local media said. Footage captured by Michael Connolly shows a tornado in Effingham.
A tornado watch is underway for three dozen counties in New York state on Thursday.
How long is the tornado watch?
The tornado watch is in effect until 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 18. It means the area is at risk for tornado activity, isolated hail and strong wind gusts.
Which counties are covered by the tornado watch?
- Albany
- Broome
- Cayuga
- Chemung
- Chenango
- Clinton
- Columbia
- Cortland
- Delaware
- Essex
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Greene
- Hamilton
- Herkimer
- Jefferson
- Lewis
- Madison
- Montgomery
- Oneida
- Onondaga
- Oswego
- Otsego
- Rensselaer
- Saratoga
- Schenectady
- Schoharie
- Schuyler
- Seneca
- St. Lawrence
- Steuben
- Tioga
- Tompkins
- Warren
- Washington
- Yates
What is a tornado watch?
A tornado watch is an alert issued by the National Weather Service. It means that tornadoes are possible in and near the “watch” area.
A tornado watch is issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur, and the watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or states.
If a tornado watch is issued in your area, the Weather Service says to be prepared and be ready to act quickly if the next level, a warning, is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
MORE: High wind warning issued across parts of NY: Gusts up to 55 mph
What is a tornado warning?
A tornado warning is a more serious alert, indicating that a tornado is either happening or is about to happen, and you should take shelter immediately.
Tornadoes in New York: A history of twisters
Since 1950, New York has experienced over 500 tornadoes, with the majority being relatively weak EF0 and EF1 twisters. However, the state has also seen a few significant tornado events, including the devastating tornado outbreak of May 31, 1985, which produced several powerful tornadoes, including an EF4 in Chenango County. While tornadoes are less common in New York compared to regions like the Midwest, they remain a notable and occasionally destructive aspect of the state’s weather history.
A record-breaking 33 tornadoes touched down in New York in 2024, including two stronger than an EF-2. Two other high tornado years in New York were 1992 and 1998, when 25 and 23 tornadoes were recorded, respectively. Seven tornadoes occurred in New York last year.
When is peak tornado season in New York?
While peak tornado season starts as early as March in some southern states, New York’s peak tornado season runs from June through August, though tornadoes can happen any time of the year, according to the National Weather Service.
Tornado season elsewhere in the nation peaks from May to June in the Plains states and in June or July in the upper Midwest.
