RismadarVoice Reporters
August 21, 2026
Severe storms and possible tornadoes have battered parts of the northeastern United States, damaging properties, flooding roads and leaving dozens of people stranded in vehicles.
Heavy rain and strong winds swept through New York, New Jersey and Delaware on Thursday, with emergency services responding to flooding and storm-related damage.
On Long Island, a possible tornado struck the Atlantic Beach area, damaging a major beach club and scattering debris, including broken beach chairs and wooden beams, across the shoreline.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency after the storm caused significant property damage. Authorities reported no deaths or serious injuries and deployed search teams to ensure no one was trapped in damaged cabanas.
The National Weather Service had earlier warned of waterspouts and tornado-like conditions in the area but had not immediately confirmed whether a tornado touched down on the beach.
Flooding also disrupted transportation in New York City, forcing the closure of sections of the Long Island Expressway in Queens in both directions.
In Jersey City, New Jersey, emergency crews rescued 69 people trapped inside vehicles after flash flooding caused water levels to rise rapidly.
Rescuers reportedly waded through knee-high floodwaters and used small inflatable boats to reach stranded motorists.
In Dover, Delaware, authorities reported that a likely tornado caused significant damage across parts of the city. Fallen trees, damaged power lines and flooded roads were reported, although no serious injuries were recorded.
The Delaware Electric Cooperative said more than 1,000 customers temporarily lost power in the northern part of its service area, though most of the outages were restored within several hours.
Weather officials said the storm system was moving offshore and was expected to weaken over the following hours, while residents in affected areas were urged to remain cautious and follow emergency safety instructions.
