Updated: Aug. 6, 10:32 a.m.
Extreme weather on Buffalo's West Side has damaged buildings, downed power lines, and caused traffic light outages.
National Weather Service Buffalo confirmed that a tornado touched down in Buffalo near Niagara Street and Carolina Street.
Buffalo Police say the event happened in the "vicinity of Niagara and Carolina streets at approximately 12:50 p.m." They also advise motorists to avoid the area.
Current street closures in the vicinity of Niagara and Carolina streets. pic.twitter.com/Tm65VZyYA1
— Buffalo Police Department (@BuffaloNYPolice) August 5, 2024
National Grid reports approximately 801 customers without power in Buffalo's West Village Historic District neighborhood as of 2:45 p.m. Power is expected to be restored by 3:45 p.m.
Local law clerk Sara Palprowitz says she was working from home when the tornado flew by.
“You hear trucks coming through here all the time, but it lasted a little bit longer,” she said. “And I was like, ‘that's weird.’ (I) stuck my fingers through the blinds, and there was just … a bunch of stuff flying through the air. And I turned around, I was like, there's a freaking tornado.”
Niagara and Carolina streets were closed as needed while debris was cleaned up. The street has since been cleaned and cleared.
