Technology and Science21 July, 20263 min read
Tornado Warnings Trigger in Sullivan County and Morris and Sussex as Severe Storms Hit Tri-State
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Tornado warnings affected parts of the Tri-State region. Severe storms produced flash flooding, damaging winds, and hail.
Tri-State storm threats
Severe weather on Tuesday brought watches and warnings across the CBS News New York viewing area, with a First Alert Weather Day issued due to heavy downpours and the possibility of strong winds and flash flooding. CBS News New York reported that tornado warnings popped up in upstate Sullivan County and in Morris and Sussex counties in New Jersey, and it said trees and wires were down near Stanhope on the Morris and Sussex border. The National Weather Service said several inches of rain could fall per hour, and a tornado watch was in effect for Ocean County until 9 p.m.
“A tornado watch is in effect for Ocean County until 9 p.m.”
CBS News New York also said another tornado touched down in Parsippany-Troy Hills in Morris County, while the Flash Flood Emergency Plan was activated by the New York City Emergency Management Department. In the same CBS News New York forecast, MTA officials said they cleared storm drains, checked emergency generators, and had pumps and debris trains ready, and MTA CEO and Chairman Janno Lieber said, "We're pumping water out of the system, but sometimes it has nowhere to go."
Plans, delays, and warnings
As the storm system moved through, Time Out Worldwide said forecasters warned that July 21 could bring flash flooding, damaging winds, hail and even a small chance of an isolated tornado, with the National Weather Service issuing a Flood Watch for New York City starting that morning. Time Out Worldwide added that New York City activated its Flash Flood Emergency Plan for the second time in less than a week, and it quoted Mayor Zohran Mamdani saying, "Our administration is getting ahead of storms that are heading to our city these next few days and New Yorkers should take time to prepare too." CBS News New York reported that transportation officials announced a ban on empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on all MTA bridges from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. due to high winds.
CBS News New York also said New York area airports were being impacted, with more than 180 delays and more than 200 cancellations at Newark, JFK and LaGuardia as of noon. In a separate update, ABC said a Tornado Watch issued for New York City and the Tri-State has been dropped, while New York City and most of the Tri-State remained under a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m.
What’s at risk next
NBC New York said more severe weather was expected across the tri-state Tuesday, days after a powerful storm system ravaged the region with flash floods and triggered tornado alerts. NBC New York reported that the greatest threats from Tuesday’s storms would be damaging straight-line wind with gusts 60+ mph and isolated flash flooding, and it said the strongest storms could deliver over two inches of rain per hour. NBC New York also warned that the storm threat would last most of the day, but it said not to expect rain to be falling all day, describing "one, two, or maybe three waves of wet weather" from morning through evening.
In parallel, Audacy said the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch for all five boroughs of NYC, as well as all of New Jersey, Nassau County, the Lower Hudson Valley and southwestern Connecticut until 9 p.m., and it said a Flash Flood Warning was also issued for parts of NYC including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Audacy further stated that wind gusts of up to 60 mph on Tuesday evening may down trees or blow around unsecured objects, and it said the potential for a tornado was highest in New Jersey.