The National Weather Service has confirmed that a weak EF-0 tornado touched down for about two minutes in Canandaigua on Monday.
A significant amount of damage took place right off of Routes 5 & 20 in Canandaigua where many businesses were left without power. At least a dozen utility poles came down with high winds. Some of those damaging cars and buildings.
Many in Canandaigua remain without power as of Tuesday evening. RG&E says some will be restored Tuesday, and some on Wednesday, but it’s possible some households may have to wait until Thursday.
Avangrid officials announced Tuesday that the electric company is asking some Canandaigua RG&E customers to reduce their usage while crews work to make necessary repairs.
"Due to impacts from Monday’s severe storms we are asking customers on the west side of Canandaigua Lake from Butler Road extending north to reduce their energy use – turning off air conditioners and other non-essential appliances – until 9 p.m. tonight," a statement from Avangrid read.
"These customers, which number approximately 900, may resume A/C use from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Wednesday. This preventative measure is due to extensive pole damage in Canandaigua. If usage is not reduced, RG&E will have to create an outage disrupting service into Wednesday night."
The downed utility poles and power lines blocked Eastern Boulevard from the plaza where Goodwill sits all the way to the Maguire Ford dealership. This prevented employees from leaving, forcing them to either wait for utility crews to remove the lines or carefully walk away from the area.
Utility crews said generators were being used to power traffic lights due to the resulting outages.
There was even more damage along Lakeshore Drive where Kershaw Park saw some of the worst. Multiple trees, including a large willow that is a favorite of many park visitors, were toppled, shredded or split by high wind. Paths were blocked by branches, pavilions were covered in debris and some cars were damaged. An outdoor tent at a business across the street had its canvas top destroyed.
Some people living nearby say they haven't seen this type of damage since the ice storm in the early 1990s.
"So there's trees toppled, a car under that tree, our kayaks were found in a parking lot 100 yards away. Our kayak racks are a mess. Its a warzone," said Lauren Burns of Canandaigua.
"You could see a cycling motion in the clouds," said Jeff Jones of Canandaigua. "Whether that counts as a tornado, I didn't see anything touch down. It was pretty scary, things were banging against the house, the windows, you can see the trees didn't fare very well."
Roseland Waterpark will be closed on Tuesday because of damage that is blocking access to the park. It will reopen on Wednesday.
Despite all the damage, authorities say no one was hurt.
This comes after several confirmed tornados in upstate New York last week, including a Category 2 in Arkright in Chautauqua County, also with estimated 110 mph winds.