Tornado Touches Down In Manorville With 85 MPH Winds, Damage

MANORVILLE, NY — A fast-moving, tornado swept through the Manorville area Monday afternoon, leaving a trail of damage, including downed and trees and electrical wires.

According to a public information statement by the National Weather service, the tornado took place on Monday in Manorville from 4:33 p.m. to 4:38 p.m. with estimated maximum wind speeds of 85 mph and a 1.6 mile wind path; the wind path had a maximum path width of 50 yards.

No injuries or fatalities were reported, the NWS said.

A severe thunderstorm moving northeast over Mastic/Shirley and then into Manorville in southeast Suffolk County produced an EFO tornado, the NWS said. According to the NWS, and EFO tornado is "weak," with 65 to 85 mile per hour winds.

The tornado first touched down on Dayton Street, about 400 yards south of the intersection of South Street and Dayton Avenue in Manorville, the NWS said. It sheared large tree limbs and the tops off of dozens of oak, maple and pine trees, as well as uprooting at least a dozen shallow rooted large trees. Several electric poles were downed by falling trees on this block, with collateral tree damage noted to a few houses in the neighborhood, the NWS said.

The tornado continued northeast through the south end of neighboring Rosewood Street and then across its intersecting cross street of South Street. Several more trees were uprooted, large limbs broken, or tree tops sheared on this leg of its path, the NWS said. Facing houses on the north and south side of South Street had widespread tree damage and uprooting. A shed was destroyed in that location as well, with damage to residences in the form of sporadic blown off shingles and siding, missing storm screens, and a couple of broken windows, the NWS said.

The tornado then continued northeast through a wooded area, where more tree damage was noted, before crossing the Long Island Expressway near Exit 69 while lifting, the NWS said. The path of tree damage and debris ended on the service road on the north side of the LIE near the intersection with Wading River Road.

The NWS thanked Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, the Brookhaven Highway Department, and local residents for their assistance in conducting the storm survey.

Residents turned to social media to post photos of the damage.

Barbara Lassen of Manorville said trees and wires were down, with emergency services at the scene to assess the damage and clear up the debris.

(Courtesy Danielle DeSantis Campbell)

Matthew Tauber, meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Upton, said in order for a tornado to form, wind shear is needed; according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, "One way a column of air can begin to rotate is from wind shear — when winds at two different levels above the ground blow at different speeds or in different directions."

Tornadoes are relatively rare on the East End, Tauber said. "They don't happen that frequently."

A tornado warning was issued for the Manorville and Calverton areas at 4:38 p.m. It expired about 20 minutes later.

There's a 50 percent chance of additional showers and thunderstorms across the island into the early morning hours Tuesday.