Rome, N.Y. — A powerful line of thunderstorms Tuesday struck the city and downtown area of Rome, toppling a church steeple, crushing brick walls and sending trees onto homes.
The storm ripped through downtown, leaving businesses with shattered windows, torn sidings and damaged roofs.
Some of the city’s iconic buildings were hit: Windows blew out of the Capitol Theatre on West Dominick Street and the roof was wrecked at the Grand Union Grocery Store on Erie Boulevard.
Update: ‘It looks like a war zone’: No serious injuries as Rome digs out of massive wind storm
Tornado-force winds hit nearby Griffiss Air Field at about 3:35 p.m. The weather service reported a high speed of 79 mph.
A massive mural of a man riding a horse, one of the city’s best-known landmarks, has crumbled. Now, only the horse’s feet are visible.
Severe winds ripped through Rome on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, uprooting …