The National Weather Service confirmed Friday that a tornado touched down in Atlantic Beach on Long Island, following a series of storms the previous evening. Nassau County officials declared a state of emergency in response to the storm damage and flooding.
The event began Thursday evening as a waterspout over the ocean before moving onto land at approximately 7:11 p.m., according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. The National Weather Service (NWS) cited radar data, video evidence, and damage reports near the Sun and Surf Beach Club to confirm the tornadic touchdown.
According to the Inwood Fire Department, approximately 50 cabanas were damaged or destroyed at the beach club. One minor injury was reported involving a club employee who suffered a head injury but declined medical treatment at the scene. Fire Chief Josiyah Green stated that no individuals were trapped or required rescue from the damaged structures.
In addition to the tornado damage, first responders conducted rescues for individuals trapped in vehicles due to floodwaters on Thursday. The NWS reported it is also investigating a second potential waterspout touchdown in the eastern Rockaways.
The emergency declaration issued by County Executive Blakeman mobilized the county's Emergency Operation Center to coordinate recovery efforts and potential regional responses with neighboring Suffolk County. Residents in the area experienced immediate disruptions on Thursday evening when a tornado warning was active from 6:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Motorists were also impacted by flash flooding that required emergency intervention to extract people from submerged vehicles.
Long-term effects include the ongoing investigation by the National Weather Service into additional storm activity in the eastern Rockaways, which may influence future local emergency protocols for waterspouts moving onshore. As of Friday, the specific timeline for the reopening of the affected beach clubs has not been established. County officials stated they will continue to advise the public as conditions change and recovery operations proceed.