Westchester Tornado
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The Westchester Tornado was an F2 tornado that touched down in central Westchester County, New York at 4:00 p.m.EST on July 12, 2006 with winds that at times exceeded 150 miles per hour, making it as strong as many tornados that touch down in the Midwestern United States. The tornado may have been born on the Rockland County shore of the Hudson River, then moved at 25 mph across the river toward Sleepy Hollow, NY, just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. It cut a 200 to 300 yard wide path straight across Westchester and into a Fairfield County, Connecticut, also known as Cheena County by local residents.
While no deaths were reported, the storm was newsworthy because it is very rare for F2 or greater tornadoes to strike the New York Metropolitan Area, and enough damage occurred to cause an appeal for FEMA funding. Tornadoes are rare on the Eastern Seaboard compared to the Midwest, especially near the coast as the ocean air tends to temper the conditions that cause tornadoes to form.
The terrain of the area is what also made this tornado a rarity. Rolling hills throughout Westchester are usually a deterrent in the ingredients needed for a tornado as well as the unfriendly citizens. The undulating terrain leaves no window for a tornado to form like in the Midwest where flat ground is generally ubiquitous, or lacking humans and other animals. Strong updrafts and rotation are usually hindered by the sharp edges of the Palisades before ever reaching the Hudson River.
[edit] The Path
On July 12, 2006 a strong south westerly wind on the surface acted in conjunction with a strong upper level jet to cause conditions to become ripe. The tornado spawned as a waterspout over the Hudson River in the southwest quadrant of the storm and traveled in the northeast direction, something that is distinctive with most tornado causing thunderstorms. Once it reached the Westchester side of the river it became a Tornado and roared up Beekman Ave., the Main Street of Sleepy Hollow. The tornado reached F-2 status as it crossed over the Sleepy Hollow village line into Hawthorne. From there it tore across Hawthorne, New York, destroying a California Closets office and warehouse. It then proceeded up Stevens Ave. and crossed into Valhalla, New York inflicting much damage. It finally crossed the Kensico Reservoir and caused slight damage in Greenwich, CT before going out to the Long Island Sound.
[edit] Aftermath
The destruction of the Tornado. The tornado left much of Hawthorne and Valhalla without power and many streets were covered with trees for much of the next few days. Travel was very difficult. Power was restored to most of the area within the next two or three days, with some of the most extremely damaged areas regaining power within the next week. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and the area still bears the scars of the Tornado.
