New York City was hit by a pair of tornadoes 18 years ago, one of which was the first to strike Brooklyn in more than a century.
As New Yorker’s were waking up Aug. 8, 2007, severe thunderstorms packing a tornado threat struck the city in the 6 a.m. EDT hour.
The first tornado hit Staten Island, where it produced EF1 damage, mainly to trees. It tracked nearly two miles from around Castleton Corners to Tompkinsville.
Two minutes after that tornado dissipated, another stronger one formed and struck Brooklyn, downing trees and causing structural damage to roofs along a four-mile long path. The worst damage, rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, was seen in the Bay Ridge area. This is considered a strong tornado, packing winds between 111 to 135 mph.
In addition to the tornadoes, the storms also produced significant flash flooding during the morning rush across New York City, including on several subway lines and roads.
Tornadoes don’t happen every year in the local area covered by the National Weather Service in Upton, New York, which includes far southeast New York, northeast New Jersey and southern Connecticut.
Since 2008, there were four years with no tornadoes at all, but as many as 12 in 2018, and 10 in 2021, according to the National Weather Service. All other years had between 1 to 4 twisters.
The Aug. 8, 2007, Brooklyn tornado uprooted this tree, pulling up a section of sidewalk and crushing a car. Photo by Samantha Vuignier/Corbis via Getty Images
Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.
