HAMBURG, N.Y. -- Two tornadoes touched down in sparsely populated sections of Hamburg and the town of Holland, according to the National Weather Service.
The mid-day storm slammed a wide area, but especially bore down on Buffalo's Southtowns. The tornado in Hamburg was rated EF2, with an estimated maximum wind speed of 105 miles per hour and a path of five miles, according to the NWS.
The other tornado, which touched about 20 minutes later, cut a 2.5 mile path through Holland, with a maximum wind speed of 95 miles per hour. There were no fatalities, according to the Erie County executive.
The Erie County Fairgrounds and adjacent Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg sustained serious damage. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo traveled west to tour damage at the fairgrounds, set to host the popular Erie County Fair in less than one month.
"Mother Nature likes to test us, I think. Seven feet of snow was a test. Flash flooding the other week was a test," said Cuomo, D-New York. "The tornadoes was a high-level test, I think we graduated to the next level of testing by Mother Nature, but Buffalo and Erie County are ready for it and can handle it."
This gif is must-see—Car lifted off of driveway, spun sideways when storm tore through #HamburgNY:https://t.co/BYCsEPJ2RI pic.twitter.com/sRo6XrQfHz
— Spectrum News BUF (@SPECNewsBuffalo) July 20, 2017
Damage to the Erie County Fairgrounds and parked cars after possible tornado hits Hamburg @SPECNewsBuffalo pic.twitter.com/GvAXYasyQB
— LaMonica Peters (@LaMonicaPeters) July 20, 2017
Here's a look at the east and west grandstand. We are told about 20 roofers were up there an hour before the tornado hit. pic.twitter.com/B7kXBgtNWD
— Breanna Fuss (@BreannaFuss) July 20, 2017
Last Vermont Hill Rd. video. Shows what woods normally look like, then damage. @SPECNewsBuffalo pic.twitter.com/OrePRQBUMv
— Sarah Blazonis (@SarahBlazonis) July 20, 2017
A treehouse destroyed and several other trees ripped out of the ground, roots and all, at this Bunting Rd house. pic.twitter.com/Iryc0swHXy
— Rebecca Vogt (@RebeccaVontheTV) July 20, 2017