While Rochester, New York has its fair share of stormy weather, it is a relatively safe place due to its proximity near the Great Lakes.    

The cold spring waters and relatively cool summer waters of Lake Erie and Ontario tend to tamper down severe thunderstorms that can cause tornadoes. 

However, we do have our fair share of severe weather, including tornadoes. We have had tornadoes in the past and will have them again in the future.  

The strength of a tornado is determined by the damage that occurs.

A scale was developed by Tetsuya Theodore Fujita. It is appropriately named the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

The number that follows ‘EF’ is the strength of the tornado.

The strongest tornado in New York State was in Montgomery County on 7/10/1989 with an EF4 rating that injured 20 people.

The deadliest in New York State was in Orange County on 11/16/1989.  An EF1 took the lives of 9 people.

The strongest tornado that hit the City of Rochester was in 1932. It was estimated to be an EF2 with winds of 111 to 135 mph.

Since 1950, when detailed records began, New York has had nearly 450 confirmed tornadoes.   

With the advent of Doppler Radar in the 1990s, that helps better detect them, the state averages 9 tornadoes per year since then. 

Doppler Radar (Online Tornado FAQ)

The vast majority of these occur over the Southern Tier through the lower Hudson Valley.

They do occur here locally though, just not as frequently and typically not as intense.

The number and dates of tornadoes that occurred in our region since 1950

Monroe County: 4 tornadoes.  On 4/6/1979 EF0, 9/18/1981 EF1, 7/25/2009 EF0, 7/19/2013 EF0 occurred.

Orleans County: 1 tornado.  On 9/29/1986 an EF1 occurred.

Wayne County: 4 tornadoes.  On 6/9/1980 EF1, 6/15/1993 EF0, 5/11/2003 EF1, 8/21/2011 EF2 occurred.

Ontario County: 5 tornadoes. 6/10/2015 EF0, 8/20/1994 EF1, 7/15/1996 EF1, 8/29/2009 EF0, 6/22/1996 EF1 occurred.

Livingston County: 2 tornadoes.  On 5/22/1960 an EF0 and 4/9/1991 an EF1 occurred.

Genesee County: 2 tornadoes.  On 9/3/1993 an EF1 and 7/25/2009 an EF1 occurred.

Wyoming County: 3 tornadoes.  On 7/7/1965 EF1, 5/1/1991 EF1, 6/2/1998 EF2 occurred.

Yates County: 5 tornadoes. On 7/14/1954 EF1, 7/1/1956 EF1, 6/27/1978 EF1, 6/22/1996 EF1, 5/3/2018 EF0 occurred.

Seneca County: 1 tornado. On 6/21/2007 an EF1 occurred.

So next time you here us talk about severe weather during our Weather On The Ones, or if an alert is issued for your area, don’t think a tornado can't occur in my neighborhood. 

Even though they’re rare, they can and do occur here in Rochester and the Finger Lakes.

Here is a helpful link to stay safe when a tornado warning is issued for your area.