2010 Brooklyn–Queens tornadoes

{{Short description|Occurrence of severe weather in New York City}}

{{Infobox storm

| name = 2010 Brooklyn/Queens tornadoes

| image = Flushingtornado2.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Damage to a home in Flushing caused by a large fallen tree.

| type = Tornado outbreak

| formed = Thursday, September 16, 2010 4:38pm - 8:25pm EDT

| active =

| dissipated =

| lowest pressure =

| lowest temperature =

| tornadoes = 14

| fujitascale = EF3

| tornado duration =

| highest winds =

| gusts =

| maximum snow =

| power outages = >30,000

| casualties = 2 fatalities (+1 non-tornadic fatality); 25 injuries

| damages = $65.5 million (2010 USD){{cite web |title=Tornado Reports September 16, 2010 |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=09&beginDate_dd=16&beginDate_yyyy=2010&endDate_mm=09&endDate_dd=16&endDate_yyyy=2010&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL |website=NOAA |publisher=NOAA |access-date=February 25, 2022}}

| affected = Park Slope, Brooklyn; Middle Village/Flushing, Queens in New York City, New York, United States

| location =

| current advisories =

| enhanced = yes

| notes =

| season = tornadoes of 2010

}}

The 2010 Brooklyn/Queens tornadoes were a severe weather event that occurred in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City on September 16, 2010. These tornadoes were the second and third to touch down in New York City that year, the first having occurred in the Bronx on July 25.

Summary

File:New York Tornado 09162010 - 4.jpg

The storms struck New York City just as the evening rush hour was beginning. Damaging winds, heavy downpours, and hail up to {{convert|1|in|cm|sp=us}} wreaked havoc with the evening commute.[http://www.erh.noaa.gov/displayprod.php?product=NYCTOROKX National Weather Service Storm Report] National Weather Service, September 16, 2010. Accessed September, 18, 2010. Hundreds of downed trees led to a temporary suspension of service on the Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak, and several New York City Subway services including the {{NYCS|7}}, {{NYCS|L}}, and {{NYCS|M}}, leaving tens of thousands of commuters stranded.[http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/storm_with_heavy_winds_sweeps_through_ss47jvwlwjcSlVAmG8kI8J Severe storm sweeps through city, 1 dead, transit disrupted] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918205802/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/storm_with_heavy_winds_sweeps_through_ss47jvwlwjcSlVAmG8kI8J |date=September 18, 2010 }}, New York Post, September 17, 2010. Accessed September, 18, 2010.

A woman was killed when a tree fell and crushed the vehicle she was driving. Another man in Flushing was killed by a tree crashing into his home by Kissena Park. Extensive and widespread wind damage led to over 30,000 downed trees, and power lines. During the storm, winds tore trees out of the ground before blowing them up to {{convert|30-40|ft|m}} away. According to Con Edison, more than 25,000 customers lost power in Queens while 5,000 were without power in Staten Island. Four buildings across Brooklyn and Queens reported experiencing a partial collapse due to tornadic winds. The worst damage was concentrated in the neighborhoods of Middle Village, Forest Hills, and Bayside in Queens as well as Park Slope and Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn.{{Cite web|last1=Rivera|first1=Ray|last2=Roston|first2=Michael|title=New York City Battered by Fierce Storm|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/nyregion/17storm.html|access-date=2021-07-26|website=www.nytimes.com}} Scattered power outages were reported across parts of the city.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11354269 New York battered by twin tornadoes] BBC News, September 17, 2010. Accessed September, 18, 2010.

Two separate tornadoes were later confirmed in Park Slope and Flushing, two areas that suffered the worst damage from the storms. The stronger of the two tornadoes touched down over Flushing and was rated an EF1 with maximum winds of 100 mph. The tornado touched down in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and headed through Northeast Queens, dissipating over Little Neck Bay. The twister tore down the 150-year-old steeple of St. George's Church in downtown Flushing.{{cite web|url=http://www.dioceselongisland.org/announcements/article_1125.shtml |title=Tornado fells bell tower spire at St. George's, Flushing, |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307233126/http://www.dioceselongisland.org/announcements/article_1125.shtml |archivedate=March 7, 2012 }} Episcopal Diocese of Long Island website. In addition to the tornadoes, the National Weather Service confirmed the occurrence of a macroburst bringing winds up to {{convert|125|mph|kph}} to a wide swath of Middle Village and Forest Hills. In Forest Hills, a group of trees were knocked over in MacDonald park, destroying the park and surroundings.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100922093409/http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=OKX&product=PNS National Weather Service Public Information Statement saved at Internet Archive] September 20, 2010 National Weather Service. Combined, the two tornadoes caused $25.7 million in damages. [https://data.dailyrecord.com/tornado-archive/new-york/2010/ Tornadoes in New York, 2010], DailyRecord

These tornadoes were part of a small outbreak that produced several damaging tornadoes across the Midwest, especially in Ohio. An EF2 tornado caused severe damage, totaling $35 million, near Wooster, Ohio.[https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=255046 NCDC Storm Events Database: EF2 Tornado], NCEI Another strong EF3 tornado that destroyed numerous homes near Reedsville, Ohio and Belleville, West Virginia killed one person and injured several more. This became the first fatal tornado in West Virginia in a decade.[https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/04/extreme-weather-2010-tornado-killed-one-destroyed-homes/ Extreme Weather: 2010 tornado killed one; destroyed homes], news and Sentinel, April 25, 2018 The stadium at Athens High School was destroyed by a tornado.[http://projects.thepostathens.com/SpecialProjects/beyond-the-bubble-2020/athens-ohio-high-school-football-tornado-10-years-ago-basil-rutter-field.html HOW ATHENS RESURRECTED THE HOME OF THE BULLDOGS], Athens Messenger, October 8, 2010

Confirmed tornadoes

{{Tornado Chart

| Total = 14

| F0 = 2

| F1 = 8

| F2 = 3

| F3 = 1

| F4 = 0

| F5 = 0

| Enhanced = yes

}}

=September 16 event=

class="wikitable collapsible" width="100%" !colspan="7"\|List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, September 16, 2010
EF#	Location	County	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Comments/Damage
colspan="7" align=center\|Ohio
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|storm}} \| EF0 \|SW of Galena \|Delaware \|{{Coord\|40.18
82.89\|name=Galena (Sep 16, EF0)}} \|2038 \|{{convert\|0.25\|mi\|m
1}} \|Minor tree damage and a few shingles were removed from a house as a result of this brief tornado.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat2}} \| EF2 \|S of Wooster \|Wayne \|{{Coord\|40.78
81.96\|name=Wooster (Sep 16, EF2)}} \|2126 \|{{convert\|11\|mi\|km}} \|Severe damage at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center where greenhouses and a large brick laboratory building were destroyed and other buildings were heavily damaged. Over 150 houses and barns were also damaged, some significantly with a few destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted and vehicles were flipped and tossed. One person was injured.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat2}} \| EF2 \|S of Somerset \|Fairfield, Perry \|{{Coord\|39.81
82.30\|name=Somerset (Sep 16, EF2)}} \|2152 \|{{convert\|11\|mi\|km}} \|Two houses were destroyed and many others were damaged, some heavily. Major damage to hundreds of trees and to power lines and poles. One person was injured. Damage also occurred in West Rushville.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|Tarlton \|Fairfield, Pickaway \|{{Coord\|39.57
82.86\|name=Tarlton (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|2156 \|{{convert\|2.85\|mi\|km}} \|Two grain silos were thrown and several houses were damaged. Extensive tree damage occurred along the path and a semi-trailer was pushed over.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|SW of Farmerstown \|Holmes \|{{Coord\|40.45
81.75\|name=Farmerstown (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|2200 \|{{convert\|3\|mi\|km}} \|A few houses were damaged and barns and outbuildings were destroyed along the path.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|SW of Buena Vista \|Hocking \|{{Coord\|39.53
82.67\|name=Buena Vista (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|2209 \|{{convert\|1\|mi\|km}} \|A pole barn lost its roof and a house sustained minor damage.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|New Philadelphia area \|Tuscarawas \|{{Coord\|40.49
81.53\|name=New Philadelphia (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|2220 \|{{convert\|5\|mi\|km}} \|Several houses sustained minor damage and outbuildings were destroyed. Many trees were also uprooted.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|Crooksville area \|Perry, Morgan \|{{Coord\|39.77
82.09\|name=Crooksville (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|2221 \|{{convert\|5\|mi\|km}} \|Several houses were damaged and sheds, barns and outbuildings were destroyed.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat2}} \| EF2 \|S of Nelsonville \|Athens \|{{Coord\|39.39
82.23\|name=Nelsonville (Sep 16, EF2)}} \|2254 \|{{convert\|3\|mi\|km}} \|Severe damage in the area, with 13 houses and many mobile homes destroyed and dozens of other houses damaged, some heavily. Many trees were uprooted or snapped. 7 people were injured.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat3}} \| EF3 \|Reedsville area \|Meigs, Wood (WV) \|{{Coord\|39.15
81.75\|name=Reedsville (Sep 16, EF3)}} \|0000 \|{{convert\|9\|mi\|km}} \|1 death - Severe damage on both sides of the Ohio River. Over 50 houses were damaged or destroyed with at least 2 that were completely leveled. Numerous mobile homes and farm buildings were damaged or destroyed. Mobile home frames were found wrapped around tree stumps. Extensive tree damage occurred and vehicles were tossed and destroyed. 16 others were injured, some seriously.
colspan="7" align=center\|New York
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|storm}} \| EF0 \|Park Slope \|Kings \|{{Coord\|40.67
73.99\|name=Park Slope (Sep 16, EF0)}} \|2133 \|{{convert\|2\|mi\|km}} \|Weak tornado touchdown embedded in a larger macroburst. Direct tornado damage limited to trees, some which landed on and destroyed vehicles.
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|Flushing \|Queens \|{{Coord\|40.74
73.84\|name=Flushing (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|2142 \|{{convert\|4\|mi\|km}} \|1 death - Many trees were knocked down including one falling onto a car killing one person driving along Grand Central Parkway. Several houses and businesses were also damaged, and many windows were blown out. One other person was injured and one indirect death was also reported.
colspan="7" align=center\|New Jersey
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|Woodruff \|Ocean \|{{Coord\|40.06
74.49\|name=Woodruff (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|2205 \|{{convert\|2.2\|mi\|km}} \|Two houses sustained major roof damage. A small barn was also destroyed and over 300 trees were blown down.
colspan="7" align=center\|West Virginia
bgcolor=#{{storm colour\|cat1}} \| EF1 \|SE of Palestine \|Wirt \|{{Coord\|39.06
81.34\|name=Palestine (Sep 16, EF1)}} \|0025 \|{{convert\|1\|mi\|km}} \|Significant tree damage with some falling on houses and outbuildings.
colspan="7" \| Sources: [http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/100916_rpts.html SPC Storm Reports for 09/16/10], [http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/events/20100916/ NWS Wilmington OH], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KCLE NWS Cleveland], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KPBZ NWS Pittsburgh], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KPHI NWS Philadelphia], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KRLX NWS Charleston, WV], [https://web.archive.org/web/20081222054541/http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=OKX&product=PNS NWS New York City (PNS)], [https://web.archive.org/web/20100410122011/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms NCDC Storm Data]

class="wikitable collapsible" width="100%"

!colspan="7"|List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, September 16, 2010

EF#

Location

County

Coord.

Time (UTC)

Path length

Comments/Damage

colspan="7" align=center|Ohio

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | EF0

|SW of Galena

|Delaware

|{{Coord|40.18

82.89|name=Galena (Sep 16, EF0)}}

|2038

|{{convert|0.25|mi|m

1}}

|Minor tree damage and a few shingles were removed from a house as a result of this brief tornado.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | EF2

|S of Wooster

|Wayne

|{{Coord|40.78

81.96|name=Wooster (Sep 16, EF2)}}

|2126

|{{convert|11|mi|km}}

|Severe damage at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center where greenhouses and a large brick laboratory building were destroyed and other buildings were heavily damaged. Over 150 houses and barns were also damaged, some significantly with a few destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted and vehicles were flipped and tossed. One person was injured.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | EF2

|S of Somerset

|Fairfield, Perry

|{{Coord|39.81

82.30|name=Somerset (Sep 16, EF2)}}

|2152

|{{convert|11|mi|km}}

|Two houses were destroyed and many others were damaged, some heavily. Major damage to hundreds of trees and to power lines and poles. One person was injured. Damage also occurred in West Rushville.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|Tarlton

|Fairfield, Pickaway

|{{Coord|39.57

82.86|name=Tarlton (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|2156

|{{convert|2.85|mi|km}}

|Two grain silos were thrown and several houses were damaged. Extensive tree damage occurred along the path and a semi-trailer was pushed over.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|SW of Farmerstown

|Holmes

|{{Coord|40.45

81.75|name=Farmerstown (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|2200

|{{convert|3|mi|km}}

|A few houses were damaged and barns and outbuildings were destroyed along the path.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|SW of Buena Vista

|Hocking

|{{Coord|39.53

82.67|name=Buena Vista (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|2209

|{{convert|1|mi|km}}

|A pole barn lost its roof and a house sustained minor damage.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|New Philadelphia area

|Tuscarawas

|{{Coord|40.49

81.53|name=New Philadelphia (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|2220

|{{convert|5|mi|km}}

|Several houses sustained minor damage and outbuildings were destroyed. Many trees were also uprooted.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|Crooksville area

|Perry, Morgan

|{{Coord|39.77

82.09|name=Crooksville (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|2221

|{{convert|5|mi|km}}

|Several houses were damaged and sheds, barns and outbuildings were destroyed.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | EF2

|S of Nelsonville

|Athens

|{{Coord|39.39

82.23|name=Nelsonville (Sep 16, EF2)}}

|2254

|{{convert|3|mi|km}}

|Severe damage in the area, with 13 houses and many mobile homes destroyed and dozens of other houses damaged, some heavily. Many trees were uprooted or snapped. 7 people were injured.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | EF3

|Reedsville area

|Meigs, Wood (WV)

|{{Coord|39.15

81.75|name=Reedsville (Sep 16, EF3)}}

|0000

|{{convert|9|mi|km}}

|1 death - Severe damage on both sides of the Ohio River. Over 50 houses were damaged or destroyed with at least 2 that were completely leveled. Numerous mobile homes and farm buildings were damaged or destroyed. Mobile home frames were found wrapped around tree stumps. Extensive tree damage occurred and vehicles were tossed and destroyed. 16 others were injured, some seriously.

colspan="7" align=center|New York

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | EF0

|Park Slope

|Kings

|{{Coord|40.67

73.99|name=Park Slope (Sep 16, EF0)}}

|2133

|{{convert|2|mi|km}}

|Weak tornado touchdown embedded in a larger macroburst. Direct tornado damage limited to trees, some which landed on and destroyed vehicles.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|Flushing

|Queens

|{{Coord|40.74

73.84|name=Flushing (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|2142

|{{convert|4|mi|km}}

|1 death - Many trees were knocked down including one falling onto a car killing one person driving along Grand Central Parkway. Several houses and businesses were also damaged, and many windows were blown out. One other person was injured and one indirect death was also reported.

colspan="7" align=center|New Jersey

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|Woodruff

|Ocean

|{{Coord|40.06

74.49|name=Woodruff (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|2205

|{{convert|2.2|mi|km}}

|Two houses sustained major roof damage. A small barn was also destroyed and over 300 trees were blown down.

colspan="7" align=center|West Virginia

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | EF1

|SE of Palestine

|Wirt

|{{Coord|39.06

81.34|name=Palestine (Sep 16, EF1)}}

|0025

|{{convert|1|mi|km}}

|Significant tree damage with some falling on houses and outbuildings.

colspan="7" | Sources: [http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/100916_rpts.html SPC Storm Reports for 09/16/10], [http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/events/20100916/ NWS Wilmington OH], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KCLE NWS Cleveland], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KPBZ NWS Pittsburgh], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KPHI NWS Philadelphia], [http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KRLX NWS Charleston, WV], [https://web.archive.org/web/20081222054541/http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=OKX&product=PNS NWS New York City (PNS)], [https://web.archive.org/web/20100410122011/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms NCDC Storm Data]

References

External links

[https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/WAF-D-12-00006.1 Tornadoes in the New York Metropolitan Region: Climatology and Multiscale Analysis of Two Events]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1-Nyj3X7Rs Tornado Hits Queens College]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3bYbYZ-ryc Park Slope Tornado – 9.16.10 (Brooklyn, NY)]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd_nr9mdUyM Tornado Rips Through NYC (Bayside, NY) - Sept 16th 2010]

Category:2010s in Brooklyn

Category:2010s in Queens

Brooklyn,09-16

Category:Natural disasters in New York City

Category:Tornadoes in New York (state)

Brooklyn Queens tornadoes