A swift-moving storm hit large areas in New York today (Thursday), bringing torrential rain and heavy winds with it as Jewish residents prepare for Yom Kippur.
Without prior warning, the Brooklyn skies began darkening at approximately 5:45 pm, with torrents of rain pelting the streets accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Within a matter of seconds it became as dark as night.
Crown Heights residents were seen running for cover as they exited the Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue subway station or walked on Kingston Avenue.
Many found shelter in 770 Eastern Parkway, Mendy’s Deli and other local shops.
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning until 6:00 PM in Staten Island and Brooklyn, advising to immediately go indoors and/or to the lowest floor of buildings for shelter and stay away from windows.
By 6:00 pm the rain had subsided in Brooklyn. Local news stations reported many uprooted trees and much damage all over the 5 boroughs due to the surprise storm.
3 overturned tractor trailers on the Van Wyck Expressway with some pinned inside, and 2 overturned trailers on the Gowanus Expressway.
VIDEO: Security camera in Northern Crown Heights
VIDEO: Birds caught in storm in Clinton Hill
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i was waiting for the ice cream truck and it was only thunder and lightning and then it started poring rain so i ran inside
I thought it was just a regular storm not a tornado
and you say that london rains all day long, huh??? well right no the sun is shining like ever before!!
Go Emunah Meadvin! Helping her Tati shlep the groceries in the Storm!!!
ur soooo cute…..not whats wrong with u???? did u go to park slope??/ well i did! one man was killed! and i saw all the trees fell down and streets blocked off! and yes they said it was a tornado!
just because u live in “the hottest and best place for a honeymoon” doesnt mean u should show off like that!
The National Weather Service has confirmed that 2 tornadoes touched down in Park Slope and in Queens within 15 minutes, causing alot of damage.
go little poeples go!!!!!!
The weather service said they could not verify any funnel touching down. They sent people to investigate, but so far nothing has been proven. Let’s face it, it was a severe storm, quite dramatic in the way it happened so quick, was so hard and then stopped ten minutes later. But let’s not get over ourselves.
Oh please! I live in Florida it’s like that all the time lol! Drama queens indeed. I mean don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to be standing there in the rain, but it’s nothing to freak out about.
i was in 770 and didnt relies anything????
it was a microburst?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microburst
a green sky means nothing : http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF2/262.html
however, they are STILL trying to decide the status of the storm…
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5800620/tornado_in_new_york_city_hail_green.html?cat=9
Ummmm if you watched the weather channel you would have heard them say that there were tornato warnings but NO TORNATO… But nice try. And ps – the weather channel also said that a hurricane was supposed to hit NY 2 weeks ago… Did anyone see a hurricane??!! Have an easy fast and take a chill pill…
u guyz r soooo sad… hiding in basements bc of a lil storm? in florida we get these like twice a week in the summer!
There were none in CH, B”H, but there were indeed in Park Slope. The damage there, as in Kew Gardens Queens was severe. It took the effects of funnel clouds to rip parts off of buildings, pull trees right out of the ground, etc. I was on Third Avenue when the storm came through, and there was definitely a funnel cloud that passed through and went up the hill towards the park. Heavy damages there.
Drama Queens??? What about the overturned tractor trailers…….???
i rememb the sec. it started!!!!!! we were eating supper and all our windows were open, and all of a sudden, CRASH!! we herd thunder and it started poooooooooriiiiiiiing!!!!!!!! i remember how all the kids on my block and all the men that were walking ran in for shelter, it was soooo funny cuz everyone started screaming cuz they were getting soaked!
i came home like 5 min.’s b4, its a miracle, i culd’v been soaked 2 the bottom of my feet….
it was probs a flash flood, and as the weather people said, also a hurricane so stop arguing about it
Excellent opportunity for making brachos (Osei ma’asei bereishis; Sheh kocho u’gevuroso…) and teaching the kinder.
Here in Wisconsin, this is common weather in the summer time. Buy a battery-operated “weather radio” (not that expensive) and keep it with you to tell when the warning is over. Around here, when the siren goes off and people are running, it ain’t because Shabbos is coming soon…
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
SO DON’T SAY(WRITE) ANYTHING!!!!!!
A Tornado is not defined by how heavy rain was or how strong the wind is. That’s a hurricane. The storm could have been 100 times worse, a category 5 hurricane and it would still not be a tornado.
A tornado is a wind funnel that touches down. We did not get that. Yes, there was a warning, because in these types of storms a tornado can appear and touchdown and they want us to be prepared. But please clarify that there was no actual tornado here.
First time I heard a sichah siren in Crown Heights I thought it was a tornado warning… and I didn’t know how to get down to the basement!
Ever hear of wireless?
Is it safe to come out yet? I am still in my basement.
I have never seen such strong winds during a thunderstorm in CH (and yes – CH has thunderstorms 🙂 ). It was deffinitely something a little more scary than usual
THANK GOD TORONTO IS NOT BLOWING AWAY! although its gotten pretty cold.
there was lighting 250 times in the 15 minute tornado!!!
are u guys to decide if its a tornado or not11 did u not see the sky was green? did u not see trees fell down? or right thats b/c rain was coming down so hard u couldnt see! ye it was a tornado!!!! the weather ppl know what they are talknig about!!
If you are hiding in your basemnet how do you have internet connection?
its not permitted to go in to a shul for shelter
i thought it was just to scare away peta?
You could not live in Crown Heights (possible?)
It probably didn’t really rain here in ch, because it rains a lot harder in Florida!?
You should come to Florida and watch the Hurricanes!!! This is 10% compared to 100%… Well, I can say you never really had a heavy thunderstorm, so you think it’s the end of the world :D…
Come to Florida! It’s great here… We eat pretzels in the Hurricane! 🙂
I was in Flatbush and it was scary….
I don’t think it counts as a tornado when there was no actual funnel cloud. Weather channel, you are not.
Chasidim would say when a tornado hit and damaged a town: “abi sfaran noch oich kmdubor kamo peomim”
i wouldn’t call it a tornado but a heavy storm that lasted only 10 minutes!!!!!!!
i was near an open window and the rain came pouring on me!!!!!!
but still, you didn’t need to hide in your basement foe that….
what about 7:00
is that why is like raining rly weird in montreal?
it was just a WARNING!! its already 7:00
along ep, especially all around grand army plaza
huh?? that was a tornado???
also cute
This isn’t Florida. All I saw was some heavy rain and wind with thunder and lightning. Drama queens…
Lightning must have struck CH at least 10 times!
Is this some sort of erev Yom Kippur warning?
that was a tornado???????? i thought it wasn a regular storm….
THANK GOD CHICAGO IS SAFE!
I am hiding in my basement, did the tornado come on time? Can I come out yet?
Or you can all come visit sunny california!!!!