A powerful storm system brought a tornado and multiple waterspouts to Long Island and Queens on Thursday evening, causing significant damage and prompting Nassau County to declare a state of emergency. The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in Atlantic Beach, located in southern Nassau County, causing damage to beach clubs and their facilities.
The tornado struck the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach around 7:11 p.m. on Thursday, damaging or destroying approximately 50 cabanas. The Inwood Fire Department reported one minor injury to a beach club employee, who refused medical attention. Nearby Silver Point Beach Club also experienced property damage from the twister. The National Weather Service stated that radar data, video of the waterspout coming ashore, and damage reports confirmed the tornadic touchdown. This marks the first confirmed tornado in Nassau County since 2021.
In addition to the tornado, multiple waterspouts, which are tornadoes over water, were reported in Queens and Long Island. The weather event had not been seen in the area with such intensity since an outbreak in November 2021. A tornado warning was in effect for parts of Queens County and Nassau County until 7:15 p.m. on Thursday as severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and flooding across the region. The New York City Emergency Management issued a statement urging residents to seek immediate shelter indoors and stay away from windows during the tornado warning.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency for Nassau County following the storm’s impact. Search teams were mobilized to ensure no one was trapped in the damaged cabanas. First responders also assisted in the rescue of people trapped in vehicles due to flooding on Long Island’s south shore. The storm’s heavy rainfall also led to localized flooding in various parts of New York, with some areas experiencing torrential rain at rates of one to three inches per hour.
The National Weather Service indicated that there was another circulation about one mile farther east in the Atlantic Beach and Five Towns area of southwestern Nassau County that could have spawned a shoreward-moving waterspout, though no damage reports were immediately associated with it. The agency and emergency management partners are reviewing damage and radar data to further assess the tornado’s strength and impact, with initial assessments suggesting it was a low-end tornado, possibly rated EF0 or EF1, with winds ranging from 65 to 110 mph.
The severe weather system also caused significant disruptions, including road closures. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway was closed in both directions at Queens Boulevard, and the Long Island Expressway was closed in both directions at Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens, with drivers advised to seek alternate routes. PSEG Long Island reported an increase in power outages, with over 1,100 customers without service in some areas by Friday morning.
The damage sustained at the Sun and Surf Beach Club and Silver Point Beach Club in Atlantic Beach was extensive, with images showing damaged cabanas and buildings. Both beach clubs announced temporary closures for assessment and repairs. The storm served as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency of such weather events, prompting a call for continued storm hardening of infrastructure and emphasis on resident preparedness.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
