Tornado Touches Down Near New York State

A tornado touched down near New York. On Friday, June 14, 2024, parts of New York and the Tri-State area suffered severe thunderstorms and weather.

Credit: CBS New York via Youtube

How Are Tornados Classified?

Similar to hurricanes, tornados have their own classification system, which is based on their intensity. According to the National Weather Service,

EF0, EF1 (Weak) - Wind speeds of 65 to 110 mph
EF2, EF3 (Strong) - Wind speeds of 111 to 165 mph
EF4, EF5 (Violent) - Wind speeds of 166 to 200 mph or more

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Tornados can vary in their width and wind speeds. The NWS says the best practices during a tornado are:

- Find an underground shelter, such as a basement or safe room
- If no underground shelter is available, find a small interior room without windows on the lowest level of a sturdy building
- Protect your head by covering it with your arms, a mattress or a heavy blanket
- Avoid rooms or areas with windows

Tornado Touches Down Not Far From New York State

On Friday, when the tri-state area was experiencing severe weather, an EF-0 landspout tornado made landfall in Lawrence Township, which is located in Mercer County New Jersey, about an hour southwest of New York City. The twister formed around 6 pm, according to TomsRiver.org. It started near Johnson Road and Brunswick Avenue. Minor damage, including the uprooting of trees, occurred.

"Our storm damage assessment has confirmed an EF-0 landspout tornado occurred in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, NJ on Friday evening. The landspout downed several trees and flipped over a few vehicles in a post office parking lot. See the linked survey summary for additional details."

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