July 2010 Bronx tornado
Encyclopedia
The July 2010 Bronx tornado was a rare EF1
tornado which struck the Bronx in New York City
, United States, becoming the second known tornado to ever touch down in the borough. It touched down there on July 25, 2010 and traveled 1 mi (1.6 km) during its ten minute track. The tornado touched down around 2:55 p.m. EDT in Riverdale
, located within the Bronx, destroying dozens of trees, flattening cars and toppling power lines. Seven people were injured along its track due to broken glass. The tornado lifted around 3:00 p.m. EDT while still within the Riverdale neighborhood.
The thunderstorm that spawned the tornado caused more widespread damage, with downed trees and power lines stretching from Bergen County, New Jersey
to Suffolk County, New York
. Roughly 4,700 Consolidated Edison
customers were left without power following the event; all of whom had their electricity restored the following morning. Since 1950, when the Storm Prediction Center began keeping reliable records of tornadoes, only six other tornadoes have affected New York City, the strongest being an EF2 on August 8, 2007 in Brooklyn
.
(SPC) issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms in the Tri-State Region, with a near 2% chance of a tornado
touching down within 25 mi (40.2 km) of a given area. An upper-level trough
situated over eastern Canada
tracked eastward and was accompanied by a cold front
that trailed southward into the Mid-Atlantic states
. Thunderstorms that began along the eastern Great Lakes
, in Pennsylvania
and upstate New York
, moved southeastward towards the Atlantic seaboard along a low-level jet stream
. The highest risk of tornadoes was in eastern Pennsylvania where low-level wind shear
and high Convective available potential energy
(CAPE) values were present. However, a less thermodynamic environment in southern New York led to a lower risk around New York City
. Around 11:00 a.m. EDT, thunderstorms began developing along the cold front over central Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia
. These storms tracked generally towards the east-southeast and were noted as having a chance to develop into bow echo
, leading to a high risk of damaging winds. This prompted the SPC to issue a severe thunderstorm watch
for all of southern Pennsylvania, the entire state of New Jersey
and parts of northern West Virginia, Maryland
, Delaware
and Virginia
.
Around the time the watch was issued, wind shear values began to decrease over the region; however, moderately strong winds persisted over a large area, fueling further development of thunderstorms. Ahead of these storms, surface heating from days of above-average temperatures (exceeding 90 °F (32.2 °C)) and a moist air mass provided significant instability, another factor favoring thunderstorm formation. Over the following hours, one thunderstorm developed just outside the watch area and intensified. At 2:46 p.m. EDT, the National Weather Service
(NWS) office in Upton, New York
issued a severe thunderstorm warning
for much of the Tri-State Region. The storm was noted as having winds in excess of 60 mph (95 km/h) as it tracked east at 30 mph (45 km/h). Beginning in Bergen County, New Jersey
, a line of wind damage took shape due to the storm as it moved ever closer to New York City
. The storm continued to produce damage north of the city but the core entered the Bronx just before 3:00 p.m. EDT.
At 2:55 p.m. EDT, a tornado touched down around 5901 Palisades Avenue along the east bank of the Hudson River
. According to a resident who lived near where the tornado began, the funnel cloud
preceding the tornado developed over the river. Tracking southeast, the tornado impacted a few structures, shattering windows and damaging roofs. The scale of damage to these structures was consistent with an EF1 tornado with winds around 100 mph (155 km/h) on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
. The system continued through the Bronx for roughly five minutes before it lifted near the intersection of Riverdale Avenue and 254th Street, about 1 mi (1.6 km) from where it began. Continuing across southern New York, the thunderstorm continued to produce wind damage through Suffolk County
before moving offshore around 4:05 p.m. EDT.
along its nearly two hour existence. Strong wind gusts, reaching 65 mph (100 km/h) in some areas, downed numerous trees and power lines across Bergen County. Several roads were also blocked after large trees toppled onto them. In Pedricktown
, a large tree fell on a home and broke through the roof, allowing heavy rain to fall inside the structure. Similar damage took place in the Bronx where trees fell on cars, streets and power lines. Along the northern edge of the storm, strong winds in Yonkers
also downed trees and power lines. In Nassau
and Suffolk Counties, winds reached 60 mph (95 km/h) before the storm finally moved offshore.
The tornado itself caused relatively little damage in comparison with the thunderstorm that spawned it. Several trees were destroyed by 100 mph (155 km/h) winds produced by the system and branches were snapped and littered across streets. A few of the downed trees struck the first floor windows of buildings, shattering the glass and leaving seven people with minor injuries. One tree was uprooted and "became a projectile" and was wedged within another tree nearby. One home also sustained significant roof damage along the tornado's track. Dozens of cars were totaled by downed trees along its path and thousands were left without power. According to Consolidated Edison
(ConEd), 1,700 customers in Riverdale and 3,000 in Bronxside were without power due to the tornado. Additionally, there was also a microburst
during the thunderstorm, associated with straight-line wind damage. Non-tornadic damage was estimated at $46,000. Total losses from the tornado were estimated at $150,000. Offshore, the storm left one sailing student missing after he fell overboard during a sailing lesson. Coast Guard
teams continue to search for the man; however, there have been no signs of him as of July 28. The search was later called off and the sailor has been presumed dead.
Although the storm brought significant damage, rains from it also helped end a growing drought issue and a significant heat wave in the region. Prior to the storm's passage, temperatures in New Jersey had reached the mid-90 °F (32.2 °C)s but fell into the 70 °F (21.1 °C) range by 4:00 p.m. EDT. The heavy rains led to street flooding, creating widespread traffic jams, especially on the Henry Hudson Parkway
.
Following the severe damage caused by the storm, the NWS deployed a storm survey team on July 26 to the hardest hit area to determine if a tornado had struck. Their assessment was complete the following day and it was concluded that it was in fact a tornado that caused the most significant damage. Throughout the day on July 26, ConEd deployed crews throughout the Bronx to repair broken power poles and downed lines. By the evening of July 25, only 100 of the original 4,700 customers were still without power; it was fully restored to all residents the following day. Along Palisade Avenue, nearly half a dozen companies provided assistance in tree removal with wood chippers, cherry pickers and dump trucks to clear the streets. Due to the large amount of downed wires, residents living along Ladd Road north to Sigma Place were urged to remain in their homes for their own safety until ConEd crews had cleared the area.
. Prior to the 2010 Bronx tornado, the most recent to hit the area were an EF1 and EF2 on August 8, 2007 which hit Brooklyn
. In the Bronx, there has been only one other tornado confirmed to have touched down, the first was recorded on September 2, 1974. Four other tornadoes have been recorded within the city, one in each 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2003, none of which exceeded F1 intensity
.
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
tornado which struck the Bronx in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States, becoming the second known tornado to ever touch down in the borough. It touched down there on July 25, 2010 and traveled 1 mi (1.6 km) during its ten minute track. The tornado touched down around 2:55 p.m. EDT in Riverdale
Riverdale, Bronx
Riverdale is an affluent residential neighborhood in the northwest portion of the Bronx in New York City. Riverdale contains the northernmost point in New York City.-History:...
, located within the Bronx, destroying dozens of trees, flattening cars and toppling power lines. Seven people were injured along its track due to broken glass. The tornado lifted around 3:00 p.m. EDT while still within the Riverdale neighborhood.
The thunderstorm that spawned the tornado caused more widespread damage, with downed trees and power lines stretching from Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
to Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
. Roughly 4,700 Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
customers were left without power following the event; all of whom had their electricity restored the following morning. Since 1950, when the Storm Prediction Center began keeping reliable records of tornadoes, only six other tornadoes have affected New York City, the strongest being an EF2 on August 8, 2007 in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Meteorological synopsis
On July 25, 2010, the Storm Prediction CenterStorm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center , located in Norman, Oklahoma, is tasked with forecasting the risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the contiguous United States. The agency issues convective outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and watches as a part of this process...
(SPC) issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms in the Tri-State Region, with a near 2% chance of a tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
touching down within 25 mi (40.2 km) of a given area. An upper-level trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
situated over eastern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
tracked eastward and was accompanied by a cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
that trailed southward into the Mid-Atlantic states
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
. Thunderstorms that began along the eastern Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, moved southeastward towards the Atlantic seaboard along a low-level jet stream
Jet stream
Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. The main jet streams are located near the tropopause, the transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere . The major jet streams on Earth are westerly winds...
. The highest risk of tornadoes was in eastern Pennsylvania where low-level wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
and high Convective available potential energy
Convective available potential energy
In meteorology, convective available potential energy , sometimes, simply, available potential energy , is the amount of energy a parcel of air would have if lifted a certain distance vertically through the atmosphere...
(CAPE) values were present. However, a less thermodynamic environment in southern New York led to a lower risk around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Around 11:00 a.m. EDT, thunderstorms began developing along the cold front over central Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. These storms tracked generally towards the east-southeast and were noted as having a chance to develop into bow echo
Bow echo
A bow echo is a term describing the characteristic radar return from a mesoscale convective system that is shaped like an archer’s bow. These systems can produce severe straight-line winds and occasionally tornadoes, causing major damage.-Research:...
, leading to a high risk of damaging winds. This prompted the SPC to issue a severe thunderstorm watch
Severe thunderstorm watch
[File:Annual_severe_thunderstorm_watch_frequency_in_the_United_States.svg|thumb|right|300px|Map of average annual severe thunderstorm watches in the United States between 1999 and 2008.Legend:...
for all of southern Pennsylvania, the entire state of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and parts of northern West Virginia, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Around the time the watch was issued, wind shear values began to decrease over the region; however, moderately strong winds persisted over a large area, fueling further development of thunderstorms. Ahead of these storms, surface heating from days of above-average temperatures (exceeding 90 °F (32.2 °C)) and a moist air mass provided significant instability, another factor favoring thunderstorm formation. Over the following hours, one thunderstorm developed just outside the watch area and intensified. At 2:46 p.m. EDT, the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
(NWS) office in Upton, New York
Upton, New York
Upton, New York is a hamlet on Long Island in the town of Brookhaven. It is the home of Brookhaven National Laboratory, and a National Weather Service station.Upton is located in Suffolk County, New York in the USA....
issued a severe thunderstorm warning
Severe thunderstorm warning
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when trained storm spotters or a Doppler weather radar indicate a strong thunderstorm is producing dangerously large hail or high winds, capable of causing significant damage. In the United States, it does not account for lightning or flooding...
for much of the Tri-State Region. The storm was noted as having winds in excess of 60 mph (95 km/h) as it tracked east at 30 mph (45 km/h). Beginning in Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, a line of wind damage took shape due to the storm as it moved ever closer to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The storm continued to produce damage north of the city but the core entered the Bronx just before 3:00 p.m. EDT.
At 2:55 p.m. EDT, a tornado touched down around 5901 Palisades Avenue along the east bank of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. According to a resident who lived near where the tornado began, the funnel cloud
Funnel cloud
A funnel cloud is a funnel-shaped cloud of condensed water droplets, associated with a rotating column of wind and extending from the base of a cloud but not reaching the ground or a water surface. A funnel cloud is usually visible as a cone-shaped or needle like protuberance from the main cloud...
preceding the tornado developed over the river. Tracking southeast, the tornado impacted a few structures, shattering windows and damaging roofs. The scale of damage to these structures was consistent with an EF1 tornado with winds around 100 mph (155 km/h) on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
. The system continued through the Bronx for roughly five minutes before it lifted near the intersection of Riverdale Avenue and 254th Street, about 1 mi (1.6 km) from where it began. Continuing across southern New York, the thunderstorm continued to produce wind damage through Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
before moving offshore around 4:05 p.m. EDT.
Impact and aftermath
The thunderstorm that spawned the tornado left a trail of wind damage from northeastern New Jersey through Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
along its nearly two hour existence. Strong wind gusts, reaching 65 mph (100 km/h) in some areas, downed numerous trees and power lines across Bergen County. Several roads were also blocked after large trees toppled onto them. In Pedricktown
Pedricktown, New Jersey
Pedricktown is an unincorporated area within Oldmans Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP code 08067....
, a large tree fell on a home and broke through the roof, allowing heavy rain to fall inside the structure. Similar damage took place in the Bronx where trees fell on cars, streets and power lines. Along the northern edge of the storm, strong winds in Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
also downed trees and power lines. In Nassau
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
and Suffolk Counties, winds reached 60 mph (95 km/h) before the storm finally moved offshore.
The tornado itself caused relatively little damage in comparison with the thunderstorm that spawned it. Several trees were destroyed by 100 mph (155 km/h) winds produced by the system and branches were snapped and littered across streets. A few of the downed trees struck the first floor windows of buildings, shattering the glass and leaving seven people with minor injuries. One tree was uprooted and "became a projectile" and was wedged within another tree nearby. One home also sustained significant roof damage along the tornado's track. Dozens of cars were totaled by downed trees along its path and thousands were left without power. According to Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
(ConEd), 1,700 customers in Riverdale and 3,000 in Bronxside were without power due to the tornado. Additionally, there was also a microburst
Microburst
A microburst is a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to, but distinguishable from, tornadoes, which generally have convergent damage. There are two types of microbursts: wet microbursts and dry microbursts...
during the thunderstorm, associated with straight-line wind damage. Non-tornadic damage was estimated at $46,000. Total losses from the tornado were estimated at $150,000. Offshore, the storm left one sailing student missing after he fell overboard during a sailing lesson. Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
teams continue to search for the man; however, there have been no signs of him as of July 28. The search was later called off and the sailor has been presumed dead.
Although the storm brought significant damage, rains from it also helped end a growing drought issue and a significant heat wave in the region. Prior to the storm's passage, temperatures in New Jersey had reached the mid-90 °F (32.2 °C)s but fell into the 70 °F (21.1 °C) range by 4:00 p.m. EDT. The heavy rains led to street flooding, creating widespread traffic jams, especially on the Henry Hudson Parkway
Henry Hudson Parkway
The Henry Hudson Parkway is an long parkway in New York City. The southern terminus is at West 72nd Street in Manhattan, where the parkway continues south as the West Side Highway. It is often erroneously referred to as the West Side Highway throughout its entire course in Manhattan...
.
Following the severe damage caused by the storm, the NWS deployed a storm survey team on July 26 to the hardest hit area to determine if a tornado had struck. Their assessment was complete the following day and it was concluded that it was in fact a tornado that caused the most significant damage. Throughout the day on July 26, ConEd deployed crews throughout the Bronx to repair broken power poles and downed lines. By the evening of July 25, only 100 of the original 4,700 customers were still without power; it was fully restored to all residents the following day. Along Palisade Avenue, nearly half a dozen companies provided assistance in tree removal with wood chippers, cherry pickers and dump trucks to clear the streets. Due to the large amount of downed wires, residents living along Ladd Road north to Sigma Place were urged to remain in their homes for their own safety until ConEd crews had cleared the area.
Historical perspective
Since the SPC began keeping records of severe weather events in 1950, few tornadoes have touched down around New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Prior to the 2010 Bronx tornado, the most recent to hit the area were an EF1 and EF2 on August 8, 2007 which hit Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. In the Bronx, there has been only one other tornado confirmed to have touched down, the first was recorded on September 2, 1974. Four other tornadoes have been recorded within the city, one in each 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2003, none of which exceeded F1 intensity
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
.
See also
- Tornadoes of 2010Tornadoes of 2010This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2010. The majority of tornadoes form in the U.S., but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions...
- 2007 Brooklyn tornadoes
- 2006 Westchester County tornado2006 Westchester County tornadoThe 2006 Westchester County tornado was the strongest and largest tornado in the history of Westchester County, New York. It touched down there on July 12, 2006 and traveled into southwestern Connecticut during a 33-minute span through two states...
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks