2014 Smithfield, New York tornado
| EF2 tornado | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 8, 2014 7:02 pm EDT |
| Duration | 3 minutes |
| Dissipated | July 8, 2014 7:05 pm EDT |
| Max rating1 | EF2 tornado |
| Highest winds |
|
| Damage | $600,000 (2014 USD)[2] |
| Power outages | >40,000 |
| Fatalities | 4 fatalities |
| Areas affected | Smithfield, New York |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
| |
On July 8, 2014, an EF2 tornado touched down in Smithfield, New York. It was part of a small outbreak of 14 tornadoes, including another EF2, that collectively caused $1.67 million (2014 USD) in damages. However, the EF2 in Smithfield was the most destructive tornado, and also became officially the second deadliest in the state's history, behind an F1 tornado in November 1989, which killed nine people (although that tornado may have been a downburst).[3] The tornado was short-lived, only lasting three minutes; by the time forecasters saw it on the radar, it had already dissipated. There was a tornado warning in place for areas affected by another tornado that day, but Smithfield was not included.[4]
Meteorological history and damage[edit]
On July 8, 2014, a slight risk for severe weather was issued by the Storm Prediction Center as a cold front progressed through the region.[5] Later on that day, a line of storms began progressing across New York. By 5:00 p.m., rotation began to emerge, and tornadoes became possible throughout the state, with a tornado warning being issued for Onondaga County; however, only a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Smithfield. The tornado lasted three minutes on the ground, less than the required time for a rotational scan, which contributed to the lack of a tornado warning for Smithfield.[4] The storm hit Syracuse just after 6:00 p.m., as a macroburst with 85 mph (137 km/h) winds, and the tornado that struck Smithfield traveled 1,000 feet (300 m) down a hill at approximately 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), making it more difficult to see.[1]
The tornado, as it killed four people, officially became the second deadliest in New York history, behind an F1 tornado that killed nine people in East Coldenham on November 16, 1989.[3] However, the status of the 1989 event as a tornado is disputed, with tornado experts Thomas P. Grazulis and Ted Fujita concluding that the event was a downburst.[6] Damage was relatively light in comparison, for such a death toll at only $600,000, due to the short time on the ground.[2] One house was thrown hundreds of feet into another house. In addition, over 40,000 people in Smithfield lost power.[3] The tornado either heavily damaged or destroyed approximately ten homes and downed numerous trees. Then-governor Andrew Cuomo said that "it looks like a literally a bomb went off in a house”[7] and said that the loss of life, especially of a four-month old baby, was unrepairable.[8]
Other tornadoes[edit]
This tornado was part of a tornado outbreak that day of 14 tornadoes, causing $1.67 million in damage. Another EF2 tornado touched down in New Albany, Pennsylvania.[9] The system also spawned three EF1 tornadoes in Ohio, two EF1 tornadoes in West Virginia, two other EF1s and an EF0 in Pennsylvania, and three other EF1s and another EF0 in New York. In spite of these other tornadoes, no one else was injured by the outbreak.
In Maryland, the same storm system caused 42,000 people to lose power, and at a church, it killed one child and injured eight more.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Deadly tornado sprung up, killed four before forecasters could even see it, Syracuse.com, July 13, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Storm Events Database, NOAA
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Powerful Tornado in Upstate New York is State's Second-Deadliest, NBC News, July 9, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Smithfield Tornado: Five Years Later, Spectrum News 1, July 8, 2019
- ↑ Remembering the Smithfield, NY Madison County Tornado, Global Weather & Climate Center, July 29, 2019
- ↑ Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant tornadoes, 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films. p. 116. ISBN 1-879362-03-1. Search this book on
- ↑ "Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Tornado's explosive, random damage is a challenging 'new normal' in New York". Syracuse.com. July 9, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Storm Kills Four in New York State and Child at Maryland Camp, NBC News, July 9, 2014
- ↑ National Weather Service Raw Text Product, Iowa State University, July 9, 2014
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