Tornado Touchdown Confirmed In Orange County: UPDATE

MONTGOMERY, NY — Yep, it was a tornado. The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down Thursday in the town of Montgomery in Orange County.

A weather service storm survey team confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down on the northwest side of the Orange County Airport near the Wallkill River.

The estimated time was 6:15 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. The weather service said the estimated maximum wind speed was 90 mph.

According to meteorologists, the maximum width of the path of the twister was 600 yards and the length was 2.6 miles.

Straight line winds on the southern flank of the tornado likely caused tree damage at the intersection of Route 211 and Canning Road, as well as minor structural damage noted to two buildings at the airport.

A temporary meteorological station, installed on the airfield to support this weekend’s air show, measured sustained winds of 69 mph with a peak gust of 82 mph before communications went out.

The team said the tornado moved east from near the river into the village of Montgomery, where damage was extensive along Weaver Street and Chandler Lane. The tornado then continued east across Beaver Dam Road to Old Nealytown Road where it ended.

The bulk of damage consisted of large snapped and uprooted trees.

The Enhanced Fujita scale classifies an EF1 tornado as weak with winds from 86 mph to 110 mph.

Original article:

MONTGOMERY, NY — Authorities are looking into whether a tornado touched down in Orange County Thursday during a violent thunderstorm that swept through the Hudson Valley. National Weather Service said team is being sent to the town of Montgomery.

The weather service said their personnel will be assessing damage done in Orange County. They will be accompanied by New York state and local emergency management officials.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus mentioned in a Facebook post Thursday evening that it was believed that a tornado touched down in Montgomery, causing power outages due to downed trees and power lines.

He said Montgomery village Mayor Steve Brescia declared a state of emergency in the wake of the storm. All residents were ordered to "shelter in place" until 6 a.m. Friday.

The weather service said a preliminary assessment of the possible tornado touchdown will be completed and issued by 10 p.m. Friday.

Do you have pictures of the storm damage in Orange County? Send them to michael.woyton@patch.com, telling us where it happened.

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