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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Nearly one million people in Northwestern New York were told to remain on alert for a possible tornado on Thursday morning as a severe thunderstorm rolled through the region.
Why It Matters
Although no tornado watches or warnings were in place for New York, tornadoes are sudden and often arrive with little warning, meaning people usually only have minutes to take shelter.
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New Yorkers were urged to take cover during the severe thunderstorm. Even without a tornado present, strong winds and hail can cause injury or damage.
What To Know
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Buffalo, New York, issued the severe thunderstorm warning just before 10 a.m. local time on Thursday morning.
The warning area included more than 920,000 people in Northeastern Erie County, Niagara County, Southwestern Orleans County, and Northwestern Genesee County.
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"At 957 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Erie Basin Marina, or 7 miles west of Kenmore, moving northeast at 40 mph," the warning said, adding that impacted locations include Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Niagara Falls, West Seneca, North Tonawanda, Clarence, Lockport, Lackawanna, Batavia and Kenmore.
Wind gusts up to 60 mph were expected, as well as pea-sized hail, and people were told to "expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees." The warning also noted that a tornado could develop.
"For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building," the NWS advised.
The storm comes as a cold front moves east across the region on Thursday. NWS Buffalo warned that a few storms and rain showers were expected throughout the day. A special marine warning, small craft advisory, and other weather alerts are also in place for the region.
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist Aaron Reynolds told Newsweek: "This is completely normal. We have a pretty good strong cold front moving across the area, and it's producing some showers and some embedded lightning and gusty winds with it."
NWS Buffalo in a severe thunderstorm warning: "Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the basement or small central room in a sturdy structure."
What Happens Next
The thunderstorm warning is set to expire at 11 a.m. local time, but NWS meteorologists warned storms and rain showers could persist throughout the day. People in the region were urged to follow local weather guidance and be prepared to take shelter should a severe thunderstorm develop.
Reynolds told Newsweek there's potential for more storms to form later in the day, with a higher chance further east.
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