Rare Tornado Warning Issued for NYC (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Rare tornado warnings were issued in New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut as powerful thunderstorms rolled through Sunday night knocking down food carts in Manhattan, toppling trees and leaving more than 100,000 without power.
Tornado warnings were issued for six counties in and around New York City on Sunday night with winds of 60mph forecast to whip through the area.
In Greenwich, Connecticut hurricane-strength gusts of 75mph were reported. In New Jersey 60 to 65mph winds were reported, according to NBC New York.
Officials haven’t confirmed if an actual tornado touched down but whipping winds were reported in the area. The storms were caused by a cold front racing across the Northeast.
Shocking videos shared on social media showed howling gusts of straight-line winds zooming through the city and pushing people backwards.
Tornado warnings were issued for Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Bergen, Fairfield, Bronx and New York County. The warnings ended by 10pm.
By the evening tri-state utilities reported that an estimated 101,000 customers were without power before 10pm.
The dangerous winds disrupted several train lines and caused trees to crash down, sometimes into houses. Train service for the Long Island Rail Road on the Port Jefferson and Oyster Bay Branches and the Mtro-North New Canaan Branch saw delays
More than two million people lived in the line of impact of the storm warnings and alerts warned locals to take cover by moving to a basement or an interior room away from windows.
