Rare Tornado Strikes Long Island as Storm Drenches NYC

A rare tornado touched down in Nassau County on Long Island on August 20, 2026, as a severe storm system drenched the New York City region, bringing torrential rainfall, widespread flash flooding, and dangerous conditions that disrupted the evening commute. The National Weather Service confirmed the twister, which began as a tornadic waterspout over water before moving ashore and causing damage to nearby structures. Meteorologists were also investigating a radar signature indicating a possible second, briefer tornado near Far Rockaway in Queens, though no photographic evidence or damage reports had confirmed it.

The storm delivered significant precipitation across the Mid-Atlantic, with the hardest-hit areas from northeast New Jersey to eastern Long Island receiving 4 to 5 inches of rain. The deluge peaked during the evening commute, leading to severe disruptions. Floodwaters forced the closure of major highways, including the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Long Island Expressway, stranding drivers and inundating vehicles. In Queens neighborhoods like Bayside Terrace and Elmhurst, streets turned into rivers, with businesses suffering flooded basements and forced closures.