Southern Tier tornadoes are rare, but do happen. See Steuben, Allegany County twisters.

Tornadoes in the Southern Tier are rare, but they can happen.

That fact was driven home Wednesday, when counties throughout the Southern Tier and beyond were placed under tornado watches and warnings for much of the day.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for areas including eastern Livingston County and northeastern Allegany County. A thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was spotted 8 miles southwest of Dansville, Livingston County at 1:36 p.m., moving northeast at 45 mph. Radar of the storm indicated rotation.

Three tornadoes did materialize and touched down in Western New York Wednesday afternoon in Chautauqua, Erie and Genesee counties as the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl moved through the state and produced a string of strong storms.

Each tornado wreaked extensive damage on homes, trees and infrastructure. The strongest, in Chautauqua County, had wind speeds up to 110 mph and was rated as an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Similar tornadoes have swept through the Hornell area in Steuben and Allegany counties in the past. Here are a few memorable twisters since 2000 recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Rushford, Angelica, West Almond tornado: 2017

The last tornado to hit the Hornell area touched down in 2017 to the northwest in Allegany County. On July 20, 2017, thunderstorms intensified across southern Ontario, Canada late that morning and picked up strength as they moved into Western New York.

This storm produced multiple tornadoes. An F2 touched down in Hamburg at 11:30 a.m., followed by an F1 in Holland. The storm moved into Allegany County around 12:30 p.m., when an F0 hit near Rushford over a mostly wooded area.

Two thunderstorms then merged and intensified, producing an F1 tornado confirmed by a National Weather Service storm survey. It extended from the Town of Allen across the Town of Angelica to the Town of West Almond.

Several homes, barns and sheds were damaged with many large trees shredded and downed. Damages in the area were estimated at $250,000.

Troupsburg tornado: 2013

An F1 tornado touched down the evening of July 27, 2013 in Troupsburg. A storm moved northeast out of northern Pennsylvania into southern Steuben County. The tornado cut a 14-mile path that was 500 yards wide, with wind speeds estimated at 100 miles per hour.

Many trees and power poles were snapped in its path, and a barn was completely destroyed a mile southeast of Troupsburg. Damage was estimated at $100,000.

Canisteo, Scio tornado: 2005

The towns of Canisteo and Scio were both impacted by a tornado Aug. 12, 2005. The storm developed first in Allegany County, with an EF-0 tornado knocking down trees near the Vandermark Road at 1:24 p.m. An EF-1 later touched down in the Town of Canisteo in neighboring Steuben County at 1:45 p.m.

It began on the east side of Bush Hill, just west of state Route 36 roughly a mile south of Gravel Run Road. The tornado progressed south along Route 36. It was tracked for about a mile and spanned 200 yards wide, but the heaviest damage was concentrated within a width of 75-100 yards.

An estimated 100-200 trees were knocked over or snapped in half, according to NOAA. A farm had one side of a tin barn roof torn off, and a recreational vehicle had two tree branches embedded in it when the storm passed. The tornado also moved a silage wagon and ripped down electric lines.

Property damage was estimated at $50,000, with another $5,000 in crop damage.

Corning, Elmira tornado: 2012

The Southern Tier's worst 21st century tornado started in Steuben County. A severe storm developed in the afternoon hours July 26, 2012, downing power lines in Woodhull. An F1 tornado then touched down north of Lindley at 2:38 p.m.

The storm traveled east towards Corning, hitting Corning Community College and South Corning with damage to numerous trees and homes. Two silos were damaged and airborne missiles penetrated a house, according to NOAA.

Another EF1 tornado later touched down west of Elmira near Miracle Lane off Route 352 at 3 p.m. It quickly moved into downtown Elmira along Church Street, dropping hundreds of trees that smashed cars, homes and porches.

"It was amazing no one was injured or killed," notes the NOAA description of the event.

The tornado continued its path of destruction through Chemung County and into Tioga County, hitting just north of Waverly at 3:14 p.m. An EF0 tornado was confirmed further east in Broome County shortly before 4 p.m., before the storm finally dissipated.

Damages were severe in the tornado's path, totaling around $10.3 million.

NY tornado database: See the state's worst twisters in history

The NOAA has tracked tornadoes in New York since 1950, providing data on their paths and impact.

This interactive map, featuring tornado data from January 1950, offers detailed information including damage estimates and any injuries or fatalities caused by recent tornadoes.

Wednesday's tornados are not listed on the map as the database does not include any tornados that occurred in 2024.