Tornado and Hail in New York, June 26, 1997

A line of scattered severe thunderstorms developed in a moist unstable airmass ahead of an approaching cold front. These storms produced high winds and hail. High winds downed several trees and power lines in several areas. The "swath" of greatest damage extended from Central Rockland County southeast across Southern Westchester County, Northern Nassau County and Northwest Suffolk County. High winds also downed trees and power lines in Greenwood Lake and Chester (Orange County). They resulted in accidents, causing seven people to get injured in Newburgh. A driver and passenger were injured in Newburgh when a tree fell across Route 52 and landed on their car. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service Upton Office confirmed that a weak F0 tornado occurred late Thursday afternoon in the Cherry Grove Community on Fire Island. Damage was light with a few businesses, houses, and boats at the ferry terminal at Cherry Grove being affected. The damage was limited to awnings, windows, roofs, and trees.The tornado formed in a thunderstorm complex that produced severe wind damage across Southeast NY, from Central Rockland, southeast to Northwest Suffolk Counties. A 56 mph wind gust was measured by a Weather Access Automated Station at the Fire Island Coast Guard, which is about 10 miles west of Cherry Grove.Additionally, it was learned that a cloud-to-ground lightning strike to one of the ferries servicing the area resulted in damage to the radio/navigation system on the vessel.Funnel clouds were sighted from Bayville to Syosset in Northern Nassau County and in Huntington in Northwest Suffolk County.