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Tornado warning hits Queens as video shows apparent funnel off Long Island
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Phil Corso
Published Aug 20, 2026
Modified Aug 20, 2026
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Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Phil Corso
Published Aug 20, 2026
Modified Aug 20, 2026
Share
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A tornado warning was in effect for parts of Queens Thursday evening as severe thunderstorms swept through New York City, bringing heavy rain and flooding-related traffic delays.
The National Weather Service issued the tornado warning for Queens until 7:15 p.m. New York City Emergency Management urged people in the affected area to take shelter immediately, move to a lower floor and stay away from windows.
“The safest place to be is inside a sturdy building, away from windows, in a small interior room on the lowest floor,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media. “But do not shelter in an actively flooding basement or flood-prone room.”
A video posted to social media appeared to show a funnel over the water off the South Shore of Long Island as the storm moved through the area.
The NWS also issued a special marine warning for waters off Long Island’s South Shore until 8:45 p.m.
Flooding closed the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in both directions at Queens Boulevard in Queens shortly after 7 p.m., according to New York City Emergency Management. Flooding also closed the Long Island Expressway in both directions at Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens shortly before 7:30 p.m., according to the agency.
Emergency Management also reported flooding-related eastbound delays on the Grand Central Parkway at 82nd Street and the Jackie Robinson Parkway. Officials advised drivers to consider alternate routes and allow extra travel time.
Another video posted on social media appeared to show significant flooding near the Van Wyck Expressway and the Long Island Expressway in Queens.
The flash flood warning for Manhattan and Brooklyn, issued at 5:40 p.m., was listed in effect until 7:45 p.m. The weather service issued another flash flood warning for Queens, the Bronx and Hempstead in Nassau County, Long Island shortly after 6:10 p.m., which was slated to be in effect until 8:15 p.m.
A tornado warning also covered Inwood, Cedarhurst and Lawrence in Nassau County and was in effect until 7:15 p.m., according to the weather service.
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new york city
public safety
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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