Severe storms and tornadoes moved across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions on Thursday, causing flash flooding, structural damage, and one death. A waterspout transitioned into an EF1 tornado in Nassau County, New York, while other tornadoes were reported in Delaware and Pennsylvania. The weather system disrupted transportation, leading to ground delays at major airports and the closure of several highways in New York City and Ohio.
The storms were generated by a cold front that originally caused flash flooding in central Ohio early Thursday morning. As the front moved east, it intensified over the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during the evening commute. The National Weather Service (NWS) conducted damage assessments on Friday to confirm the strength and path of the tornadoes, identifying the Nassau County event as a rare occurrence for the New York City area, which had not seen a tornado in that county since November 2021.
In Nassau County, the EF1 tornado produced peak winds of 97 mph, damaging approximately 25 to 30 beach bungalows and shattering windows in dozens of vehicles at the Sun and Surf Beach Club. In Dover, Delaware, a tornado caused "significant damage" to two hotels, including removing the roof of a Super Lodge motel. In Virginia, a man died after being struck by lightning on a beach in Cape Charles, while a woman with him sustained minor injuries. Additional damage was reported at a high school and six townhomes in York County, Pennsylvania.
The scale of the rainfall was concentrated, with New York City receiving nearly 3 inches in a few hours and parts of southern New Jersey recording close to 5 inches. This volume of water led to immediate road closures and required multiple water rescues near Columbus, Ohio. In Licking County, Ohio, the South Fork Licking River rose to a major flood stage, nearing a record crest set in March 2020. Property owners in Dover and Nassau County will likely face significant repair costs for damaged roofs, windows, and structural railings, while hotel guests in Dover were displaced to temporary shelters.
Looking ahead, the NWS expects the threat of flooding rain to shift into the Carolinas and southern Virginia as the week ends. Additional downpours are forecast for the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday, which may result in localized flash flooding from eastern Virginia to southern New Jersey. Officials in Nassau County continue to investigate whether a second waterspout came ashore east of the first tornado site. Damage assessments and clean-up efforts in the affected municipalities are expected to continue through the weekend.
(Jargon: An EF1 tornado is a rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale representing wind speeds between 86 and 110 mph. A waterspout is a tornado that forms over a body of water.)