A small tornado tore through East Atlantic Beach on Long Island Thursday evening, causing significant damage to shorefront structures and leading Nassau County to declare a state of emergency. The twister formed as a waterspout off the coast and moved ashore around 6:45 p.m., impacting beach clubs in the area.
Video footage from the scene shows the massive spout moving inland, damaging cabanas and scattering debris across the sand. The county executive, Bruce Blakeman, confirmed the tornado touchdown, stating that there were no initial reports of casualties or serious injuries. Damage assessments are underway at Silver Point Beach Club and Sun and Surf beach clubs, with search teams mobilized to ensure no one is trapped.
Matt Stark, a local who was at the Sun and Surf Beach Club with family, described the event as surreal. He reported that the tornado ripped the roof off their wooden cabana as they were sheltering inside from heavy rain. Stark likened the destruction to scenes from tornadoes in the Midwest, noting the "carnage" left behind.
AccuWeather has confirmed that the footage is consistent with a waterspout that moved ashore. The National Weather Service indicated that the event may have been a tornado but awaits damage assessment for official determination. Another potential waterspout-turned-tornado was reported in the Rockaways in Queens around the same time. A tornado warning had been issued for southwestern Nassau County and parts of Queens from approximately 6:50 p.m. to 7:05 p.m.
In addition to the tornado, heavy rainfall caused travel disruptions across Long Island, with reports of vehicles trapped in flooded areas and stranded motorists on roadways and highways.