Tornadoes Damage Long Island Coast
Two Tornadoes Strike Queens and Long Island, Prompting a State of Emergency
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About 100 workers and guests were at the cabanas at the Sun and Surf Beach Club when the storm hit, according to Inwood Fire Department Chief Josiyah Green, highlighting the scale of occupancy and the potential risk had conditions worsened.
Nassau County activated its Emergency Operations Center and mobilized a search team to check for anyone trapped in cabanas, with an 8 a.m. Friday update planned to detail damage assessments.
The storm produced heavy rain beginning around 6:45 p.m.; by roughly 10 p.m. the system had slowed, contributing to flooding and disrupted commutes.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for parts of Queens and Nassau County from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., though officials had not immediately confirmed touchdowns at the time.
Crews were being dispatched to Atlantic Beach and Rockaway Beach on Friday to assess damage and issue an official report on the storms' impact.
Two tornadoes struck the Queens and Long Island area on Thursday evening, damaging beach clubs and forcing Nassau County to declare a state of emergency. Waterspouts formed offshore and moved ashore, with the most severe damage hitting the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, where approximately 30 cabanas were destroyed or heavily damaged Newsday. One worker sustained minor injuries, but no deaths were reported.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. for parts of Queens and Nassau County NBC New York, as heavy rain began around the same time and continued through the evening. Authorities mobilized emergency response teams to search for trapped individuals and assess damage, with officials planning an 8 a.m. Friday briefing to detail the storms' impact on the region.
Waterspouts Turn Into Two Confirmed Tornadoes
Video footage captured offshore waterspouts moving toward the Long Island coast and transforming into tornadoes NY Post. The storm system brought the first confirmed tornado to Long Island in four years, according to Long Island Press. Inwood Fire Department Chief Josiyah Green reported that roughly 100 workers and guests were at the Sun and Surf Beach Club when the tornadoes struck, highlighting the significant risk had conditions worsened.
The damage at the beach club was extensive. About 30 cabanas at both the Sun and Surf Beach Club and Silver Point Beach Club were damaged or destroyed CBS News. Debris scattered across the sand and the beach area as the tornadic waterspout tore through. Emergency crews were dispatched Friday morning to Atlantic Beach and Rockaway Beach to conduct detailed damage assessments.
Nassau County Activates Emergency Operations Center
Nassau County Executive declared a state of emergency immediately after the tornadoes touched down NBC New York. The county activated its Emergency Operations Center and mobilized search teams to check cabanas for any trapped individuals. Officials emphasized the urgent need to locate anyone who might have been sheltering during the storm or struck by debris.
An official damage assessment briefing was scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday to provide the public with detailed information about the storms' full impact Newsday. The emergency declaration enabled faster deployment of resources, road closures, and detour routing to support rescue and assessment operations. The storms also disrupted evening commutes and flights in the region Thursday night.
Heavy Rain and Flooding Slowed the Storm System
The storm system produced heavy rainfall beginning around 6:45 p.m. Thursday evening Newsday. By roughly 10 p.m., the system had slowed significantly, which contributed to widespread flooding across the region. The combination of the tornado and heavy rain created dangerous conditions for drivers and residents in multiple beach communities along the South Shore.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings during the peak of the storm activity Long Island Press, giving residents a critical window to seek shelter. Although officials had not immediately confirmed tornado touchdowns at the time, the offshore waterspout observations and eyewitness video evidence supported the tornado classification. Ongoing investigations by weather officials continued into Friday as crews evaluated storm damage.
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