Two Tornadoes Hit NYC

Damage is seen from a tornado that touched down on September 8, 2012 in the Breezy Point neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Ramin Talaie/Getty Images)

NEW YORK—A pair of tornadoes struck New York City Saturday, one in Queens and one in Brooklyn, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado that hit Canarsie, Brooklyn, was classified as an EF1, which means wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour were recorded.

The same thunderstorm created a weaker tornado in Breezy Point, Queens County, with winds of 70 miles per hour.

Amateur videos on Youtube show power lines being knocked down, and damage to the Breezy Point Surf Club.

Thomas Sullivan, the general manager at the club, told the Associated Press that the tornado picked up picnic benches and dumpsters, and passed through in less than half an hour.

Jim Brady, a property owner in Breezy Point, was in his house doing plumbing work when “all of a sudden, I heard the cracking of the utility pole behind me, and then I heard the crackling of electricity,” he said according to Associated Press footage. “And then just 15 second of intense wind, white noise, things crashing all around me, and I go ‘wow, it’s a tornado.’”

No deaths or injuries were reported. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for Brooklyn and Queens around 10:40 a.m. Saturday, according to NY1.

An insurance adjuster with Statewide Adjustment told NY1 in Brooklyn “this is the first tornado damage we’ve been called out on.”

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