A furious storm system that tore through the Southeast ripped across the tri-state area Tuesday, triggering a rare tornado warning for parts of New York, including Manhattan and the Bronx, and severe thunderstorm warnings across the region.
The tornado warning was issued as a 71 MPH wind gust tore through the Bronx.
Thunder boomed as lightning flashed from Brooklyn to New Jersey by mid-afternoon, signaling a second round of ferocious weather a few hours after an initial round of fast-moving storms moved out. Torrential rain pounded streets as small hail pelted parts of the Garden State and up into Westport, Connecticut.
Early damage reports included a tree down on a house in Bergen County and one on the Garden State Parkway in Essex County, as well as trees and wires down in Toms River, Brick and Manasquan. Damaging winds ripped a cast-iron mailbox out of the ground on Staten Island, a Twitter user said. Winds in excess of 70-80 mph caused damage in Toms River that some believed could have been a tornado, but were straight line winds.
No injuries were immediately reported.
Check the latest severe weather alerts in your neighborhood here.
In Photos: See Tuesday’s Storm Roll in From the Jersey Shore
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After walloping the city, the storms surged toward Long Island and Connecticut before moving out entirely by early evening. In fact, less than an hour after the rain and winds hit the city, the sun was shining as if nothing ever happened.
Gusty and chilly winds coming on the backside of the storm will send temperatures plummeting Tuesday night into Wednesday, with some gusts possibly hitting 50 MPH. Wednesday morning is expected to be around freezing, with temps near record lows and wind chills in the teens and 20s.
Wind advisories and freeze warnings are in effect for much of the region. Click here to check the latest severe weather advisory in your area.
