EF0 tornado in Suffolk County, New York

Survey team confirmed an EF0 tornado in East Islip, NY, a narrow tornado of 50 yard width likely touched down at the southwestern end of Hollins Lane, and then continued northeast over Brushwood Court, Bayview Avenue, and Josephine Lane, and then finally over Kay Court, before lifting over the John F. Kennedy Elementary School sport fields. A few dozen large oak, maple, and pine trees were uprooted and laying in east or northeast direction. Several trees were also snapped at the trunk or had large branches sheared off along this path. In addition, minor roof and siding damage was observed for several houses, as well as leaf splater on south and east sides of several houses. This tornadic circulation was likely on the northwest side of a 400 yd. swath of 65 to 75 mph west to southwest straight line winds causing isolated large trees to be uprooted and several large limbs broken.

As mentioned, the tornado likely lifted over the John F. Kennedy Elementary School sport fields, becoming a funnel cloud. This funnel cloud may have briefly touched down as a weak tornado in the Frog Lane and Jade Street area of Oakdale, resulting in a very large, but partially rotted oak tree to topple onto and destroy a home. The funnel cloud was videotaped by the public, looking southwest from the Old Navy Department store on Johnson Avenue (just north of Sunrise Highway), but no further damage was noted with this storm.

Based on radar velocity signatures and damage orientation in relation to the general northeast motion of the parent storm, this was determined to be tornado damage, with degree of damage indicating EF0 damage.

A strong and slow moving frontal boundary, along with a potent mid level disturbance triggered strong to severe thunderstorms which impacted Southeastern New York. Six tornadoes also touched down across Long Island with one in Nassau County and five across Suffolk County.