PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTSPOTTER REPORTSNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY705 PM EDT WED AUG 8 2007...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONFIRM EF-2 TORNADO INNEW YORK CITY TODAY...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS ALONG WITH NEW YORK CITYEMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT A TORNADO SKIPPEDALONG AN APPROXIMATE 9 MILE LONG PATH FROM STATEN ISLAND TO BROOKLYNEARLY THIS MORNING.THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN IN STATEN ISLAND AT APPROXIMATELY6:22 AM IN THE VICINITY OF ST. AUSTINS PLACE IN THE LIVINGSTON -RANDALL MANOR AREA. THE TORNADO MOVED EAST...WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGEOCCURRING IN THE TOMPKINSVILLE AREA. MOST OF THE DAMAGE IN STATENISLAND WAS TO TREES...AND ESTIMATED TO BE EF-1...WITH WINDS OF 86 TO100 MPH.THE TORNADO HEADED EAST ACROSS THE VERRAZANO NARROWS...AND TOUCHEDDOWN AGAIN IN BROOKLYN AT BAY RIDGE. THIS OCCURRED SOMETIME JUSTAFTER 6:30 AM ON BAY RIDGE AVENUE BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTHAVENUES...AND CONTINUED ON AN EAST-NORTHEAST PATH ACROSS 68TH STREETBETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH AVENUES. ELEVEN HOMES IN THIS SECTION HADMODERATE TO SEVERE ROOF DAMAGE. THE STORM CONTINUED TO MOVEEAST-NORTHEAST INTO LEIF ERICSON PARK SQUARE...WHERE SEVERE DAMAGETO TREES OCCURRED. AS THE TORNADO LIFTED...IT TORE OFF THE ROOF OFTHE NISSAN CAR DEALERSHIP AT THE CORNER OF 66TH STREET AND FIFTHAVENUE. THE TORNADO RETURNED TO THE GROUND FARTHER NORTHEAST...WITHSCATTERED TREE DAMAGE ALONG 6TH AVENUE. BASED ON THE ASSESSEDDAMAGE...THIS TORNADIC DAMAGE IS CLASSIFIED AS EF-2 WITH ESTIMATEDWIND SPEEDS OF 111 TO 135 MPH.THE TORNADO RETURNED TO THE GROUND AS ANOTHER POCKET OF SIGNIFICANTDAMAGE OCCURRED ON 58TH STREET BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH AVENUES. THEROOF WAS RIPPED OFF OF 5 HOMES...AND TREE DAMAGE INDICATES STRONGEF-1 DAMAGE.THE TORNADO THEN HEADED EAST...AND TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN IN THEFLATBUSH VICINITY AT APPROXIMATELY 6:40 AM. NUMEROUSTREES...APPROXIMATELY 30...WERE UPROOTED ALONG OCEAN AVENUE BETWEENBEVERLEY ROAD AND CHURCH AVENUE. THE DAMAGE ALSO EXTENDED TO THEWEST TO ARGYLE ROAD.THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAD ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FORPORTIONS OF STATEN ISLAND AND BROOKLYN AT 6:28 AM. A SECOND TORNADOWARNING WAS ISSUED AT 6:50 AM FOR SECTIONS OFBROOKLYN...QUEENS...AND NASSAU COUNTY.
