Tornado and Hail in New York, June 2, 2000

Lines of severe thunderstorms swept southeast across the region. They produced one F1 tornado, one funnel cloud, and high winds that downed many trees and power lines and caused at least 11 injuries, 8 of which were in New York City.Based on a storm survey performed by NWS staff, an F1 tornado occurred around 7:05 pm EDT in the continental village region of the town of Cortlandt, about 3 miles north of Peekskill on the Westchester and Putnam Counties border. The tornado was classified as an F1 based on tree damage and their associated patterns. Touch down was on the southwest corner of the intersection of Highland Drive and Heath Terrace. The tornado moved northeast along the southeast shore of Cortlandt Lake in a counter-clockwise arched pattern lifting just south of the intersection of Schuyler Lane and Putnam Road. The Path Length was about 0.3 miles and Path Width averaged 33 yards. In the vicinity of Tyron Circle and Putnam Road, the tornado was at its' widest and strongest. Damage occurred to about 20 houses, with 7 houses incurring moderate damage. The tornado apparently reformed in 2 other locations as the severe thunderstorm moved east: Sprout Brook Road (Path Length about 0.15 miles) and Lakeview Road (Path Length just less than 0.1 miles). Numerous trees of 1 1/2 to 2 feet in diameter were snapped, mainly about 20 to 25 feet above the ground. Three telephone poles were snapped in the middle. Meteorologically, this tornado formed on the roll of a gust front that moved nearly 50 mph across the region and was likely on the ground for less than 1 minute.Here's a brief summary of damage reports received:In Orange County, a 60 mph wind gust was reported at the Plattekill Service Area along the NYS Thruway, just north of Leptondale. There were numerous reports of wires down, trees down on houses and cars and trees blocking roads in the vicinity of Wawayanda, Middletown, Cornwall, Goshen, Chester, and Newburgh.In Rockland County, a tree fell on and damaged a house on Mountain Avenue in Hillburn. Trees were also downed in New City. A large tree fell on a car in Haverstraw.In Putnam County, several trees and power lines were downed in Carmel and Brewster.In Westchester County, numerous trees were downed at Croton On Hudson, numerous trees and power lines were downed at Ossining, a tree fell on a house at Yonkers, and trees were downed in Valhalla.In Bronx County, numerous trees were downed countywide.In Kings County, one person was injured when a large store sign fell on top of people. A large inflatable structure was blown over. Lightning struck a tent at Old Fulton and Everett Streets around 8:40 pm EDT, which caused 5 injuries.In New York County, a scaffold collapsed on 7 cars at 94th Street and Second Avenue at 7:55 pm EDT. Debris blew off a scaffold and fell on and injured one person at 84th Street and Broadway around 8:00 pm. A tree fell on and injured one child at 214th Street and Indian Road around 8:00 pm. At Central Park, a peak wind gust of 38 mph occurred from the north at 7:38 pm.In Queens County, a spotter estimated a wind gust to 80 mph that caused a building collapse in Rockaway Beach. Numerous trees were downed in Queens Village. At JFK Airport, a peak wind gust of 45 mph occurred from the northwest at 7:59 pm EDT. At LaGuardia Airport, a peak wind gust of 44 mph occurred from the northwest at 7:42 pm.In Nassau County, a 60 mph wind gust caused wind damage in Levittown.In Suffolk County, high winds downed trees in Stony Brook and Setauket. One tree fell onto a car that injured a passenger on Lower Sheep Pasture Road around 8:03 pm EDT. An airplane pilot saw a funnel cloud and reported 0.75-inch diameter hail in Smithtown around 8:12 pm. A large tree was downed in Wading River around 8:17 pm.