UPDATE: Tornado Touches Down in Bay Ridge, Topples Multiple Trees

YS Gold 

Update - 8:29 p.m. 

New York Commissioner for Emergency Management Zachary Iscol updated New Yorkers on the Bensonhurst storm, which included significant winds that struck this afternoon between 3:30 and 3:45..

“Initial reports from the NWS are showing that these were straight-line winds of up to 70 miles per hour,” the commissioner shared, refuting earlier reports that the damage was due to a tornado. “You can see the amount of damage that was done. Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured.”

First responders initially ensured everyone had access to their homes after searching the cars crushed under the dozen or so trees that were blown over, ensuring nobody was trapped. Only one minor injury occurred when a homeowner left his house and had a tree limb fall on his shoulder. 

There were no reports of power outages in the aftermath of the storm. 

Assessment teams and cleanup crews are expected first thing tomorrow morning.

A tornado touched down in Bay Ridge during the heavy rain storm, and toppled a few trees at 18th Avenue and Bay Ridge Parkway. 

The downed trees scattered wood chips and branches around the area and crushed multiple vehicles under their weight.  

A number of wires were downed during the storm, and the FDNY responded to the scene to clear the trees and the wires in a safe manner.