First Tornado of 2026 Hits New York

Twister touches down in Cattaraugus County, causing damage

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:00am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a massive tornado formation dominating the sky over a small town, conveying the overwhelming scale and power of the natural disaster.A powerful tornado looms over a small New York town, underscoring the growing threat of severe weather in the region.NYC Today

The National Weather Service has confirmed that the first tornado of 2026 in New York touched down in Cattaraugus County on March 31, carving a 1.4-mile path and causing damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 107 mph. The storm rolled off Lake Erie and moved east-southeast, passing through the town of Gowanda before forming a mid-level mesocyclone and touching down southeast of Machias.

Why it matters

New York has seen an increasing number of tornadoes in recent years, with 2024 setting a record with 32 confirmed twisters. This early-season tornado is a reminder that severe weather can strike at any time, and highlights the need for preparedness and resilience in communities across the state.

The details

The tornado first touched down just west of Maple Valley Road, snapping and uprooting numerous trees near a few homes. The path became more defined as it moved into the valley and creek bed between Maple Valley Road and Ashford Road, leaving a mix of snapped trees in a generally convergent pattern. Some trees even fell against the storm's direction of travel.

  • The tornado touched down at 3:43 PM on March 31, 2026.
  • The tornado was only on the ground for 3 minutes.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for monitoring and reporting on weather conditions, including the confirmation of the tornado.

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What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on any additional severe weather events in the region.

The takeaway

This early-season tornado serves as a reminder that extreme weather can strike at any time, and that communities in New York need to be prepared and resilient in the face of these increasingly common natural disasters.