Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 22:40, 30 November 2008

Westchester Tornado of July 12, 2006

F2 tornado
An area where hundreds of trees were knocked down.
Max. rating	F2 tornado
Fatalities	6 Injuries
Damage	$12.1 million (2006 USD) $12.9 million (2008 USD)
Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

The Westchester Tornado was an unusual F2 tornado that touched down in Rockland New York on July 12, 2006. The tornado tracked for 13 miles (20.9 km) into southwestern Connecticut during a 33 minute span through two states. The tornado touched down at 3:30 p.m. EDT (19:30 UTC) on the shore of the Hudson River before becoming a waterspout. It tracked 3 mi (4.8 km) across the river before moving back over land. Coming ashore, the tornado struck the town Sleepy Hollow at F1 intensity. After passing through the town, it intensified into an F2 tornado and grew to almost a quarter mile in diameter. The tornado continued through the county causing damage to numerous structures along the way until it crossed into Connecticut at 4:01 p.m. EDT (20:01 UTC). Not long after entering the state, it lifted near the town of Greenwich at 4:03 p.m. EDT (20:03 UTC).

The tornado left considerable damage in its wake. Two barns and a warehouse were destroyed, a large stained-glass window was completely shattered. Numerous homes and businesses were damaged and thousands of trees were uprooted. No one was killed by the tornado and there were only six minor injuries associated with it. Total damages from the tornado totaled to $12.1 million (2006 USD; $12.9 million 2008 USD).

Meteorological synopsis

On July 12, a supercell thunderstorm developed over eastern New Jersey in association with a surface low-pressure area in southwestern Ontario. Daytime heating in the Tri-State Region led to moderate instability, a key factor in the development of showers and thunderstorms. With conditions favorable for the development of a tornado, the Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch was issued at 12:40 p.m. EDT (16:40 UTC). At around 1:05 p.m. EDT (17:05 UTC), a thunderstorm produced winds up to 60 mph (95 km/h) in Warren County, which snapped tree limbs and damaged power lines. A stronger thunderstorm developed around 2 p.m. EDT (18:00 UTC) and produced a funnel cloud near Carlstadt at around 2:45 p.m. EDT (18:45 UTC), no damage was associated with the funnel. That same storm became stronger and developed into a supercell thunderstorm as it crossed into New York. About 15 minutes later, a tornado warning was issued for southern Rockland and Westchester counties which would remain in effect until 4:15 p.m. (21:15 UTC). At around 3:30 p.m. EDT (19:30 UTC), an F1 tornado touched down near Grand View-on-Hudson along the Hudson River in Rockland County. The 100 yard (91 m) wide tornado touched down on a dock before becoming a waterspout as it took a 3 miles (4.8 km) path across the river. The tornado passed near the Tappen Zee Bridge before crossing into Westchester County.

The tornado hit the town of Sleepy Hollow, New York around 3:37 p.m. EDT (19:37 UTC), two minutes later, a 58 mph (93 km/h) wind gust was reported along the periphery of the tornado. As the tornado neared New York State Route 9A, it intensified into an F2 tornado, packing winds up to 157 mph (253 km/h), and struck the California Closet Warehouse. At this time, the tornado was estimated to be 300 yd (274 m) wide and was the strongest tornado ever recorded in Westchester County. Shortly after, the tornado weakened back to F1 intensity. Minor damage was reported through the Kensico Reservoir in Valhalla as the tornado neared the New York/Connecticut border. The track length through Westchester County was measured at around 8 mi (12.8 km). After crossing the border into Fairfield County, Connecticut, the tornado weakened further before lifting at 4:03 p.m. EDT (20:03 UTC) in Greenwich after traveling 2 mi (3.2 km) in Connecticut. Another brief touchdown may have occurred shortly after near the Merritt Parkway. The tornado tracked across a total of 13 mi (20.9 km) through two states over a period over 33 minutes.

Impact

The tornado took a clear path through Rockland, Westchester, and Fairfield counties, downing or uprooting thousands of trees, and damaging several structures, including significant structural damage to the California Closest Warehouse. Six minor injuries were also reported due to the tornado. In all, the tornado caused $12.1 million (2006 USD; $12.9 million 2008 USD).

Minor damage was reported in Rockland County. Only one structure, a dock, and one boat were damaged by the tornado.

After crossing the Hudson River, the tornado entered Westchester County, where the worst of the damage took place. The tornado first struck the town of Sleepy Hollow, damaging roofs and tearing the siding off of numerous homes and businesses. A 10 foot (3 m) tall stained-glass window in the St. Teresa of Avila Church was shattered. Afterwards, the town of Pocantico Hills was struck as the tornado intensified to F2 intensity. Several trees were uprooted and two barns were destroyed. The California Closet Warehouse suffered severe structural damage, having two two-story concrete wall being destroyed. A interior staircase, which employees used as a shelter, collapsed, injuring four of them. Concrete blocks from the building were thrown all over, several cars in the nearby parking lot were hit by the blocks. A nearby Comfort Inn had part of its roof torn off. After a tornado warning was issued, a school close to the warehouse was evacuated.

As the tornado crossed New York State Route 9A, it picked up a state trooper car and flipped it a few times before it fell to the ground, the officer inside suffered only minor injuries. Moving to the east-northeast, the tornado struck the towns of Mount Pleasant and Hawthorne, damaging numerous trees and causing minor structural damage. Damage along the Saw Mill River Parkway led officials to shut down a section of it near Mount Pleasant. Trees fell on streets and railroad tracks, halting Metro-North Railroad service and creating major traffic delays. After passing by the Kensico Reservoir in Valhalla, the tornado crossed into Connecticut. The tornado knocked down numerous power lines, cutting power to about 10,000 residences in the county. In all, six people sustained minor injuries and damages amounted to $10.1 million (2006 USD).

The weakening tornado ended its life in Fairfield County, Connecticut near the town of Greenwich. Thousands of trees were either uprooted or snapped along the 2 mi (3.2 km) path through the state. Minor damage was also reported to several structures. The tornado left 52 residences in Greenwich without power and caused $2 million (2006 USD) in damages.

Aftermath

In the wake of the tornado, the mayor of Sleepy Hollow, New York declared a state of emergency for the town. Consolidated Edison (conEdison) crews were sent out to repair downed power lines and clear roads. By the next night, power was restored to all but 600 of the previous 10,000 residences without power in Westchester. Westchester County opened its Emergency Operations Center after the storm to quickly respond to the event. Two days after the storm, many of the roads had been cleared and power was fully restored. A recreational path in Tarrytown, New York was not expected to be open for another two weeks due to numerous fallen trees. Metro-North Railroad suspended trains on the Upper Harlem line until 5:00 p.m. EDT (21:00 UTC) for the removal of debris on the tracks. During the time the rails were shut down, southbound passengers were transported by bus.

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Tornadoes of 2006

References

1. Thompson (2006-07-12). "Severe Weather Watch #593 (Tornado Watch)". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 2008-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. Stuart Hinson (2006). "July 12, Weather Event #625642 (Thunderstorm Wind)". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
3. Stuart Hinson (2006). "July 12, Weather Event #625643 (Funnel Cloud)". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
4. ^ Stuart Hinson (2006). "July 12, Weather Event #626587 (Tornado)". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
5. ^ Associated Press (2006-07-13). "Westchester County Storm: Let The Clean-Up Begin". WCBS. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
6. ^ Stuart Hinson (2006). "July 12, Weather Event #626588 (Tornado)". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
7. ^ Jim Fitzgerald (2006-07-14). "Weather Service confirms F-2 tornado roared through N.Y., Conn. on Wednesday". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
8. ^ Stuart Hinson (2006). "July 12, Weather Event #606978 (Tornado)". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
9. ^ "Summary of Tornado". National Weather Service in Upton, New York. 2006-7-14. Retrieved 2008-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
10. Associated Press (2006-7-13). "Tornado Rips Through Suburban New York". Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. Retrieved 2008-11-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. ^ Lisa W. Foderaro (2006-07-13). "Tornado in Westchester Tosses Around Trees and Damages Property". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
12. Rose Arce (2006-07-13). "Tornado hits north of Manhattan, Winds damage store, close highway; no serious injuries reported". Cable News Network. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
13. ^ Eyewitness News (2006-07-13). "Weather Service confirms F2 tornado in area, Sleepy Hollow, Hawthorne hardest hit". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
14. Candice Ferrette (2006-7-15). "Westchester tornado twists many lives". Journal News. Retrieved 2008-11-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Doppler Radar image of the tornadic supercell nearing Tarrytown
• Video of the tornado damage in Westchester
• WCBS article and video of damage/press reports of the tornado

Category:F2 tornadoes Category:New York tornadoes Category:Connecticut tornadoes Category:Tornadoes of 2006