June 2^nd, 1998 Tornadoes

National Weather Service Post Storm Damage Survey for Tuesday June 2, 1998 across Cayuga, Cortland, and Chenango Counties

A thunderstorm developed east of Penn Yan around 600 PM EDT Tuesday evening and moved eastward through Seneca county. The storm strengthened as it moved into Cayuga county and became severe when straight line winds downed trees and wires in Niles and Moravia townships. A funnel cloud and hail up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter were also reported.

Reports of funnel clouds continued as the storm moved across Cortland county from Homer through Taylor although additional tree damage was sporadic. The storm then rapidly intensified and produced a small tornado to the south of telephone road. The damage was consistent with an F1 tornado with a path length of 100 yards and a width of 60 yards. Straight line winds of 80 to 100 MPH also downed large trees on Telephone Road, Knickerbocker Road, and Cincinnatus Road.

The small tornado then skipped over the Cortland county line into Chenango county and produced another damage path 1/4 mile long by 100 yards wide across Bently Road. Many trees were snapped in half and some pines had their bark stripped off. Most of the damage is consistent with a category F1 tornado with winds of 73 to 112 MPH.

The tornado quickly dissipated but the storm continued to produce funnel clouds as it tracked across Chenango county. Thunderstorm winds caused spotty additional damage to trees as the storm moved over Norwich and into Otsego county.

Trees down near Bently Road.

Another view of trees down near camper near Bently Road.

Large tree down on Telephone Road.

Damage to structure near Knickerbocker Road.

Another view of damage to structure near Knickerbocker Road.

Radar

Switch images by moving your mouse pointer over the links below... The images show Base Reflectivity on the left side at 0.5 and 1.5 degree elevation. The right side shows Storm Relative Motion at 0.5 and 1.5 degree elevation. June 2, 1998 - 7:27 PM EDT June 2, 1998 - 7:32 PM EDT June 2, 1998 - 7:37 PM EDT June 2, 1998 - 7:42 PM EDT June 2, 1998 - 7:47 PM EDT