WILTON, NY — Two brief tornadoes touched down in Saratoga County on Thursday evening, with the stronger one rated EF1 and packing estimated 110 mph winds in Wilton. The tornadoes struck within minutes of each other as thunderstorms swept across northern New York ahead of a cold front.
Officials with the Albany National Weather Service said the Wilton tornado crossed the Northway, snapped trees, damaged cars, and blocked lanes between exits 15 and 16. A second, weaker tornado was confirmed in Gansevoort. Despite the damage along the highway and nearby roads, no injuries were reported from the Wilton tornado.
How the tornadoes formed
The severe weather setup featured warm, humid air, scattered thunderstorms, and enough wind shear to support rotating supercells. Forecasters said the atmosphere had moderate instability, with surface temperatures in the 70s and dew points in the mid to upper 60s. A band of stronger winds aloft also helped storms organize.
The Albany National Weather Service said the first Saratoga County tornado warning went out at 5:45 p.m., about 20 minutes before the Wilton tornado touched down at 6:05 p.m. The warning covered a long list of communities, including Wilton, Greenfield, South Corinth, Porter Corners, Middle Grove, and nearby hamlets. A second warning followed at 6:11 p.m. as the storm approached the Washington County line.
Where the damage was found
In Wilton, survey crews said the tornado began west of the Northway near Greylock Drive and Glenburnie Drive. It then crossed I-87 and tore through trees toward Edie Road before dissipating near the Wilton Wildlife Preserve. Tree damage was also reported in the Edie Road County Forest Preserve, and motorists faced downed trees and blocked lanes on the highway…