Letter to Assistant Administrator Uccellini - National Weather Service Tornado Warning Issued in Western New York

Letter

Dear Assistant Administrator Uccellini:

I write to urge the National Weather Service (NWS) to investigate the late tornado warning that was issued on July 20 for Western New York. Specifically, I request that the NWS determine what factors led to the tornado warning being issued after the tornado had already touched down, and whether any additional resources or change in processes could result in timelier tornado warnings in the future.

As you know, powerful storms in Western New York spawned two tornadoes in the Southtowns of Buffalo, and one near Angelica in Allegany County. The first tornado struck down at 12:30pm on July 20, cutting a five-mile long, 700-foot wide path in residential neighborhoods from Hamburg to Orchard Park with top winds at 105 mph. According to media reports, the NWS issued the tornado warning at 12:36pm, six minutes after the tornado had first touched down. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported from any of the tornadoes, but several homes and buildings were damaged. Tree damage was also significant, and one resident's home was damaged so badly by three fallen trees that he cannot live in the home right now. This resident was standing in his kitchen, just feet away from where a tree fell through his home. Had residents been warned sooner, they could have taken cover in their basements. The fact that no one in Western New York was injured due to this storm is pure luck. I urge the NWS to determine what factors led to this late tornado warning, and what can be done to ensure timely warnings in the future.

I am grateful to the Buffalo Weather Forecast Office for the proactive measures they took prior to the storm, providing a briefing to local emergency managers and other partners on July 19 to highlight the potential for severe weather and communicating the threat to the public via social media posts. I know you agree that we must do everything we can to keep residents safe, especially in communities like Buffalo and Western New York that see extreme and dangerous weather on a fairly regular basis, which is why it is crucial to understand why the tornado warning was issued late in this case, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again in the future. I am committed to working in with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have the resources they need to provide accurate and timely forecasts and keep Americans safe from extreme weather.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my staff.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

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