Damaging winds toppled trees, overturned boats and shifted homes off their foundations as a result of strong thunderstorms that moved through central New York and all the way down to Northeastern Pennsylvania Monday night and early this morning, leaving hundreds of area residents still without power.
In Rome, three reports of large hail came in between 7:30 and 7:40 Monday night, with up to 3/4-inch size ice reported, National Weather Service at Binghamton Meteorologist Steven Ipoliti said. About a mile northwest of Marcy, 2-inch hail was reported; Stittville had 1 and 1/4-inch; and Utica, 1 3/4-inch, he said. In Sylvan Beach and the Vienna area, severe wind damage was reported, as well as numerous trees down. And just east of the town line of Oneida Lake, there was a report of a large pontoon boat that had flipped, Ipoliti said. Toppled trees were also found along River Road in Marcy.
"A warm front went through with low pressure and an upper level disturbance with it, which allowed the storms to just explode," Ipoliti said. "They were popping up fast and strong. A lot of the storms went to severe levels very quickly. All of a sudden a cell would pop up on the radar every 4 1/2 minutes. It was all over the place — all the way down to Northeast Pennsylvania."
A home being built on Lamphear Road just outside Rome, was shifted at least 5 feet off its foundation from the high winds. The attached garage collapsed and was destroyed.
"We had what appears to be a tornado come through" along Lamphear Road, said Rome Deputy Fire Chief William J. Gifford III. "We have a house that is partially off it’s foundation, and a garage that collapsed. And a debris field probably a quarter of a mile or so long."
The 1 1/2 story residence was knocked several feet off its foundation, while still remaining relatively intact. The residence is newly constructed, with work still being done, and is located between Lawrence Street and Route 365. Authorities said the residence has not yet been assigned a proper address, and no one has moved in.
The heavy winds also knocked down a path in a nearby cornfield, nearly flattening the crop. Gifford said the National Weather Service will have to make the final determination on whether or not an actual tornado did touch down.
