NOUS41 KBGM 132048 PNSBGM NYZ022-140400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY 448 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2005 ...SMALL F1 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN STEUBEN COUNTY... A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST CONDUCTED A STORM SURVEY IN THE TOWN OF CANISTEO...AND CONFIRMED THAT A BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AUGUST 12 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 PM. THE TORNADO FORMED ON THE EAST SIDE OF BUSH HILL IN THE WOODS BEHIND A RESIDENCE ON STATE ROUTE 36...ABOUT ONE MILE SOUTH OF GRAVEL RUN ROAD. THE TORNADO THEN TRACKED APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH ALONG COLONEL BILLS CREEK...BEFORE CROSSING STATE ROUTE 36 AND DISSIPATING PRIOR TO REACHING ROCK RUN ROAD. THE MAJORITY OF STORM DAMAGE WAS TO LARGE TREES...AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 100 TO 200 TREES WERE UPROOTED OR SNAPPED IN HALF ALONG THE TORNADO'S PATH. SIGNIFICANT CROP DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED IN A CORNFIELD...AND A ONE SIDE OF A TIN ROOF WAS PEELED OFF A BARN ON THE EAST SIDE OF ROUTE 36. THE DAMAGE PATTERN IS CONSISTENT WITH F1 INTENSITY DAMAGE. THE FUJITA INTENSITY SCALE ASSOCIATES F1 DAMAGE TO 73-112 MPH WIND SPEEDS. THE HIGHEST WIND SPEEDS AT THE CORE OF THIS TORNADO WERE ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR THE LOW END OF THE SCALE...UP TO 80 MPH. THE SWATH OF F1 TORNADO DAMAGE WAS 75 TO 100 YARDS WIDE...WITH MINOR DAMAGE ALONG THE TORNADO PATH EXTENDING OUT TO 200 YARDS WIDE. $$ BREWSTER