NEW PALTZ, NY – A tornado struck Ulster County on Friday Debby’s remains impacted the Tri-State Areaaccording to the National Weather Service.
According to a damage survey by NWS Albany, an EF-0 tornado crossed the New York State Thruway at Exit 18 in New Paltz just before 6 p.m. EF-0 tornadoes are the weakest on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with speeds of 65-85 mph.
The NWS said the tornado uprooted a few trees as it crossed the highway. According to the report, the tornado had an estimated wind speed of 76 mph, and its path was .59 miles long and 30 yards wide. It only lasted about a minute, and no one was injured.
A tornado watch was in effect for several hours in parts of New York and New Jersey on Friday as the remains of what once was hurricane Debby moved through the region. A tornado warning was issued for Orange County shortly before 5 p.m. There have been no reports of a tornado touching down there.
The gusts downed trees and utility lines across the Tri-State Area, causing power outages and disrupting commutes. Hundreds of flights were canceled at all three local airports, and hundreds more were delayed.
The bad weather came as some communities were still trying to clean up after storms earlier in the week. Heavy rain and storms on Tuesday caused flooding And major damage in parts of New York and New Jersey.
