Tornado Watch Issued for Suffolk County Until 11 p.m.

The National Weather Service has placed Suffolk County into a Tornado Watch until 11 p.m. Tuesday evening as a massive storm pushes its way across our area tonight into tomorrow morning.

Today's storm, which continues moving north and east with heavy amounts of rain and high winds, is showing signs of possible tornadic activity, causing the NWS to issue the watch alert.

A Tornado Watch means the threat of tornadic activity is increased within the watch area but does not signify an immediate threat to that area. If the storm becomes active enough to show signs of possibly tornadic activity within an immediate time frame, the National Weather Service will issue a Tornado Warning.

The watch issued includes all parts of Long Island, New York City, northern New Jersey and much of New York State.

The storm is expected to continue into tomorrow morning, dumping between two to three inches of rain and could cause wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour that could send tree limbs flying and downing power lines.

What to Do In Case of a Tornado

In the case of a tornado, the National Weather Service suggests the following:

• The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or safe room. 
• If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
• Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately.
• If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter:
  • Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.
  • If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have the following options as a last resort:
    • Stay in your vehicle with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.
    • If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

Stay with Patch as we continue to monitor today's storm