EF0 tornado in Queens County, New York

Based on an NWS Storm Survey, a weak F0 tornado was confirmed in Cunningham Park, near the Grand Central Parkway and Clearview Expressway intersection northwest toward the Long Island Expressway.

The estimated maximum wind gust was 85 mph.

This weak tornado was spawned by a rotating thunderstorm within a spiral rain band rotating around then Hurricane Irene several hours before it made landfall in New York City.

As Hurricane Irene moved north along the Atlantic coast and interacted with land, it weakened and made its second landfall as a Tropical Storm near Little Egg Inlet along the southeast NJ Coast on August 28, 2011 around 5:35 am EDT. Tropical Storm Irene made its third landfall in New York City around 9:00 am.

Irene brought sustained tropical storm winds, heavy rain, and destructive storm surge along with two confirmed tornadoes.

Seven deaths occurred:

one 53 year old man was found dead after a 3 hr. rescue effort after his boat overturned in strong rapids while boating in the Croton River in Croton (Westchester County)

one 68 year old man drowned in a marina off City Island in the Bronx; where he had gone to check on his boat.

one 52 year old man drove through flood waters around 3 barricades and drowned in the Town of Tuxedo in Orange County, NY.

one older man died wind surfing in Suffolk County during the afternoon of 8/28/2011

one 51 year old man fell 30 feet from a 60-foot high tree while trimming large tree branches in Roslyn Heights in Nassau County on 9/9/2011.

one child came into contact with downed electrical wires and was electrocuted in Rockland County; died 9/10-11/2011

one man came into contact with downed electrical wires and was electrocuted in Rockland County

At least 600,000 people were ordered (both voluntary and mandatory) to evacuate from storm surge and fresh water inland flooding.

Widespread power outages lasted up to 1 week following Tropical Storm Irene.