Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Tornado possible in New York City today

High winds and hail, as well as the chance of a rare tornado, could cause power outages

Ethan Freedman
Climate Reporter, New York
Monday 16 May 2022 19:36 BST
Comments
Severe thunderstorms are expected around the New York area on Monday
Severe thunderstorms are expected around the New York area on Monday (Twitter/National Weather Service)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Intense thunderstorms and high winds are expected to hit the New York City area on Monday, with the possibility of hail and even a rare tornado.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that rains could cause flash flooding, as winds and potential hail bring damage and the possibility of power outages. The storm also has a small chance of causing a tornado, unusual for this part of the United States.

The storm is predicted to hit the city on Monday afternoon, starting around 2pm. Up to half an inch of rain is expected, with wind speeds possibly exceeding 50mph.

Hail of one inch in diameter is possible. Radar forecasts show a wide band of storms passing through the area, with the NWS asking residents to heed any warnings that may arise.

While tornadoes are uncommon in the Northeast, they do occur, including in the New York area. Last November, a series of tornadoes touched down in Long Island, east of the city.

And in 2007, a strong tornado formed over the city’s harbor, moving into southern Brooklyn and damaing multiple buildings.

New York City’s infrastructure has had trouble adapting to recent intense storms. Last summer, Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Henri both dropped massive amounts of rain on the city, causing flash floods and subway shutdowns.

Both of those were tropical formations, while today’s storm is a line of thunderstorms moving in from the west.

Some research has suggested that severe thunderstorms may become more common as the climate warms across much of the globe.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in