Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in New York, October 2, 2018

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in New York, October 2, 2018
Start: 2018-10-02T15:14
End: 2018-10-02T22:37
Location: New York

October 2, 2018 · NWS OKX · 12 events in 3 counties and zones

An approaching cold front triggered severe thunderstorms across southeastern New York, they produced 3 tornadoes across Rockland, Westchester and Suffolk Counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $205,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.

An approaching cold front triggered severe thunderstorms across southeastern New York, they produced 3 tornadoes across Rockland, Westchester and Suffolk Counties.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS New York, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 2, 2:25 PM EST, 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 2, 2:25 PM EST, 49 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 2, 2:24 PM EST, 50 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 2, 1:27 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service New York NY
227 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018

NYZ067-021930-
Orange-
227 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ORANGE COUNTY...

At 226 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over High Point, or
near Matamoras, moving northeast at 40 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.

This storm will be near...
  Huguenot and Unionville around 235 PM EDT.
  Otisville around 240 PM EDT.
  Howells around 245 PM EDT.
  Middletown and Florida around 250 PM EDT.
  Goshen and Chester around 255 PM EDT.
  Montgomery around 305 PM EDT.
  Walden around 310 PM EDT.
  New Windsor and Gardnertown around 315 PM EDT.
  Newburgh around 320 PM EDT.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

LAT...LON 4160 7421 4158 7413 4161 7413 4160 7409
      4161 7407 4158 7405 4158 7404 4151 7400
      4146 7400 4140 7396 4126 7449 4136 7469
      4137 7469 4140 7473
TIME...MOT...LOC 1826Z 246DEG 37KT 4132 7468

NV

Special weather statement, Oct 2, 2:21 PM EST, 53 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service New York NY
321 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018

NJZ002-NYZ067-069-022000-
Western Passaic-Rockland-Orange-
321 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN PASSAIC...SOUTHERN
ORANGE AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES...

At 320 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Vernon Valley,
or 9 miles west of Warwick, moving east at 35 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Haverstraw, Monroe, West Point, Warwick, Sloatsburg, Chester,
Greenwood Lake, Pomona, Florida, Harriman, Unionville, Upper
Greenwood Lake, Kiryas Joel, Stony Point and Woodbury.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

LAT...LON 4144 7399 4134 7396 4132 7398 4128 7395
      4125 7397 4120 7393 4117 7392 4113 7445
      4120 7437 4131 7460
TIME...MOT...LOC 1920Z 259DEG 28KT 4123 7453

NV

Special weather statement, Oct 2, 3:00 PM EST, 14 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service New York NY
400 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018

NYZ067>070-022100-
Putnam-Rockland-Northern Westchester-Orange-
400 PM EDT TUE OCT 2 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN
ORANGE...ROCKLAND...SOUTHERN PUTNAM AND NORTHERN WESTCHESTER
COUNTIES...

At 359 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Harriman, or
near Monroe, moving east at 25 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.

This storm will be near...
  Pomona around 410 PM EDT.
  New City around 420 PM EDT.
  Haverstraw around 425 PM EDT.
  Peekskill around 430 PM EDT.
  Ossining around 435 PM EDT.
  Yorktown Heights around 450 PM EDT.
  Mount Kisco around 455 PM EDT.
  Mahopac and Bedford around 500 PM EDT.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 4115 7362 4114 7364 4114 7423 4132 7426
      4139 7361
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 262DEG 20KT 4124 7415

Goodman

The radar

The Brookhaven radar (KOKX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Rockland

When: October 2, 3:14 PM EST to 3:18 PM EST
Where: Rockland County, 1.66 mi NW of Willow Grove to 0.45 mi ESE of Cedar Flats
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.12 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.239, -74.050

A National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Survey Team, in conjunction with the Rockland County Office of Fire and Emergency Services, conducted a storm survey of the damage around Stony Point New York. Based on the results of this survey and NWS Doppler Radar the following has been determined. The tornado originated in Harriman State Park west of the Palisades Interstate Parkway and Gate Hill Road, and ended near Wilderness Drive in Stony Point. Numerous trees were uprooted and down. The most severe damage is consistent with maximum wind speeds of around 100 MPH, |which indicates this was an EF-1 tornado. The tornado had a maximum path width of around 100 yards and was on the ground continuously for around one and one-half miles.

Tornado, Westchester

When: October 2, 3:44 PM EST to 3:58 PM EST
Where: Westchester County, 1.35 mi SSW of Kitchawan to 1.75 mi SSE of Mt Kisco
Rating: EF1
Path length: 4.28 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 41.202, -73.811

A National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Survey of damage in the town of New Castle New York was conducted in conjunction with the Westchester County Office of Emergency Management, and New Castle Police. Based on the results of this survey and NWS Doppler Radar the following results were determined. The tornado began just west of the Taconic State Parkway, near the Hamlet of Millwood, and ended near Taylor Road south of the Hamlet of Mount Kisco. Many trees were uprooted or snapped along the path. There was also some roof damage to a few homes along the tornado's path. The strongest damage occurred along route 100 in Millwood, with many large hardwood trees uprooted and snapped. This damage is consistent with maximum wind speeds of around 110 mph, making this an EF-1 tornado. The tornado had a maximum path width of around 300 yards and was on the ground continuously for around three and three-quarter miles.

Thunderstorm Wind, Westchester

When: October 2, 3:45 PM EST
Where: Westchester County, 0.77 mi SSW of Croton Hgts
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 41.239, -73.804

NY 129 between NY 118 and Underhill Avenue closed due to downed tree and wires.

Thunderstorm Wind, Westchester

When: October 2, 3:58 PM EST
Where: Westchester County, 0.94 mi NE of Mt Kisco
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 41.209, -73.736

Trees down on Saw Mill River Parkway and Main Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Westchester

When: October 2, 5:38 PM EST
Where: Westchester County, 0.91 mi NE of Mt Kisco
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.209, -73.737

Trees down on Orchard Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk

When: October 2, 6:45 PM EST
Where: Suffolk County, 2.18 mi S of Miller Place
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.919, -72.996

Tree down on a car on Falmouth Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk

When: October 2, 10:12 PM EST
Where: Suffolk County, Babylon
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 40.700, -73.320

Trees reported down by media in Babylon.

Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk

When: October 2, 10:15 PM EST
Where: Suffolk County, 1.17 mi SSW of Hauppauge
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.804, -73.208

Multiple trees reported down in a field on Bridge Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk

When: October 2, 10:15 PM EST
Where: Suffolk County, Wyandanch
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 40.750, -73.370

Tree reported down.

Tornado, Suffolk

When: October 2, 10:20 PM EST to 10:22 PM EST
Where: Suffolk County, 0.78 mi W of Ronkonkoma to 0.56 mi WNW of Ronkonkoma
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.22 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 40.822, -73.145

A National Weather Service Storm Survey of damage in the Hamlet of Ronkonkoma New York was conducted in conjunction with the Town of Islip. Based on the results of this survey and NWS Doppler Radar data the following information has been determined. The tornado originated just north of the western end of Seneca Street and ended about one-eighth of a mile east of the intersection of Mohican Avenue and Seneca Street. The damage was confined to between Iroquois and Ontario streets along Mohican Avenue. Numerous homes sustained damage to siding and gutters and outdoor furniture. Trees have visibly sheared tops, and at least two or three trees were downed on cars. This damage is consistent with maximum wind speeds of around 85 mph, making this an EF-0 tornado. The tornado had a maximum path width of around 200 yards and was on the ground continuously for around 400 yards.

Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk

When: October 2, 10:20 PM EST
Where: Suffolk County, 1.66 mi ENE of Central Islip
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.789, -73.151

Tree reported down on Veterans Highway between Connectquot Avenue and 5th Avenue.

Lightning, Suffolk

When: October 2, 10:37 PM EST
Where: Suffolk County, 1.35 mi W of Yaphank
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 40.832, -72.926

Lightning strike reported by Broadcast Media.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New York in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history The tornado archive for New York, 2018 Warnings in New York, October 2018

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 777900, 777908, 790220, 789917, 790221, 790428, 790445, 790223, 790444, 777913, 790224, 790443.