A powerful line of thunderstorms swept across New York on Thursday, bringing torrential rain, damaging winds and alarming scenes of waterspouts along Long Island.
Two apparent waterspouts were reported in the eastern Rockaways and near Atlantic Beach in southern Queens and Nassau County as the storms intensified during the evening.
Videos recorded by residents showed the dramatic weather formations developing close to the shoreline before apparently moving inland.
The National Weather Service said it was reviewing reports of possible tornado damage in the area.
The first waterspout appeared to be short-lived after reaching the eastern Rockaways, while the second near Atlantic Beach appeared to last longer and was associated with more substantial damage.
Atlantic Beach suffers major damage
The most serious destruction was reported at the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, where emergency crews responded to reports of severe wind damage at about 7.15pm.
Nassau County officials said a tornado appeared to have touched down at the location, although the National Weather Service had not confirmed any tornadoes on Long Island as of early Friday.
First responders found approximately 50 one-story cabanas either damaged or destroyed by the powerful winds.
A club employee sustained a minor head injury but declined medical treatment.
Inwood Fire Department Chief Josiyah Green described the situation as fortunate, noting that the beach club is particularly busy during the summer months.
The facility was subsequently closed until further notice while the extent of the damage was assessed.
Nassau County declares a state of emergency
The scale of the destruction prompted Nassau County to declare a state of emergency as officials dealt with the aftermath of the storms.
Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said preliminary observations indicated that a tornado may have touched down, but investigators still needed to determine exactly what caused the damage.
The National Weather Service’s assessment will be important in establishing whether the reported formations were tornadoes, waterspouts that moved ashore or another form of severe wind event.
Queens placed under urgent tornado warning
The danger extended into New York City, where a tornado warning was issued for Queens at approximately 6.50pm.
The warning remained in effect until about 7.15pm, with city emergency officials telling residents to take shelter immediately, stay away from windows and move indoors to a safer location.
Authorities warned that flying debris could pose a serious threat to anyone caught outside as the storm moved through the area.
The weather service had already warned at the beginning of the day that strong thunderstorms could bring rainfall rates of between one and two inches per hour.
Flash flooding overwhelms roads and subway stations
Heavy rainfall quickly created major flooding problems across New York City.
Sections of the Long Island Expressway were closed in both directions after floodwaters accumulated on the roadway.
The city’s subway network was also badly affected, with water pouring into stations and onto tracks. Videos showed large volumes of water rushing through parts of the system as the intense downpour overwhelmed drainage infrastructure.
The C train was suspended while crews worked to remove water from the tracks.
The A, E and F lines were also experiencing delays into the early hours of Friday.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority warned passengers to allow extra time for their journeys as crews continued responding to weather-related disruptions.
Airports face widespread delays and cancellations
The severe weather also created significant disruption for air travelers throughout the New York metropolitan area.
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed ground delays affecting flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport as thunderstorms moved through the region.
FlightAware figures showed that JFK recorded 167 cancellations and 414 delays, while LaGuardia had 219 cancellations and 299 delays.
Newark, which was also hit by severe rain, recorded 116 cancellations and 413 delays.
By the early hours of Friday, the ground-delay programs at the three airports had ended.
However, the FAA continued to report delays affecting flights.
Departures from JFK were facing delays of up to two hours, while Newark was also experiencing shorter departure delays.
Additional cancellations were recorded at all three airports.
New Jersey also caught in the storm system
The storm’s impact was not limited to New York.
New Jersey experienced intense thunderstorms and significant disruption at Newark Airport.
Ground stops and flight delays affected travelers throughout the day as heavy rain and thunderstorms moved across the region.
Officials advised passengers to check their flight status, allow additional time for airport journeys and be prepared for changes to scheduled departures.
Public transportation remains under pressure
The combination of flooding and storm damage left New York’s transportation network struggling to return to normal.
Subway crews worked through the night to clear water from affected sections, while the MTA urged passengers traveling Friday morning to plan for longer journeys.
Road users also faced difficult conditions, particularly in areas where floodwater accumulated rapidly.
The disruptions demonstrated how quickly intense summer thunderstorms can affect multiple parts of the city’s infrastructure at the same time.
Officials continue investigating the damage
Although dramatic waterspout footage and reports from witnesses fueled concerns about tornado activity, an official determination had not been made by early Friday.
Weather officials were examining damage patterns, radar information and eyewitness reports to establish what occurred in the Rockaways and Atlantic Beach.
The distinction is significant because waterspouts can sometimes move onto land and produce damaging winds, while tornadoes can develop independently over land or water.
For now, authorities are treating the Atlantic Beach destruction as a serious weather-related incident while the formal assessment continues.
What’s next?
Residents across the New York metropolitan area are being urged to remain alert for additional weather-related disruptions as cleanup and inspections continue.
Emergency crews will assess damaged properties, transportation agencies will work to restore affected subway services and airport operators will continue managing delays and cancellations.
Officials are also expected to complete their investigation into the reported waterspouts and possible tornadoes on Long Island, which should provide a clearer picture of how the extensive damage occurred.
Summary
Thursday’s storms delivered a major blow across the New York region, combining torrential rainfall, destructive winds, possible tornado activity and widespread flooding.
Two apparent waterspouts were reported around the Rockaways and Atlantic Beach, with severe damage recorded at a beach club in Nassau County.
Meanwhile, Queens faced a tornado warning, New York City’s subway system was flooded, major roads were closed and thousands of air travelers experienced cancellations and delays.
While Nassau County officials reported that a tornado appeared to have touched down, the National Weather Service had not officially confirmed a tornado on Long Island by early Friday.
The investigation into the storm’s most damaging episodes remains ongoing.
