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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
600 AM EDT THU APR 25 2024

...This Is Severe Weather Awareness Week...

This statement covers tornadoes in the Tri-State area.

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends between
the base of a thunderstorm and the ground.

Tornadoes develop from severe thunderstorms. They occur most
frequently, on average, during the late afternoon and early evening
from mid June through early September. However, they can occur at
anytime of day. They often develop and dissipate rapidly.

Their intensities are usually weak in our region, EF 0 and EF 1 on
the enhanced fujita, or EF, scale. This represents wind speeds from
65 to 110 mph. Their path length and width are usually small in our
area as well. Most weak tornadoes occur within areas of rain, making
them difficult to spot.

However, the area on occasion does experience a significant tornado,
one rating EF 2 or higher. The strongest tornado to impact the Tri-
State was an F4 tornado with estimated winds of 207-260 mph in
Hamden, Connecticut on July 10, 1989. May 15, 2018 was the last
time there was an EF 2 tornado in the Tri-State. This tornado moved
through Kent in the Lower Hudson Valley, with estimated winds of
around 115 mph.

The number of tornadoes confirmed by the NWS since 1950:

15 in New York City
41 in Long Island
32 in the Lower Hudson Valley
50 in Southern Connecticut,
and 30 in Northeast New Jersey.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma issues Tornado
Watches, with a lead time of up to eight hours. A Tornado Watch
means that weather conditions are favorable for the development of
tornadoes in and around a defined area.

Our NWS Forecast Office on Long Island NY issues Tornado Warnings
using a combination of environmental analysis, weather radar,
observations from law enforcement, and volunteer Skywarn Spotters.
Take immediate protective action to save your life.

Tomorrow we will cover flash floods.

$$