Tuesday's Storms Did Not Spawn Tornado

Tuesday night’s severe storms that produced a tornado warning for areas in and around Lindenhurst in fact did not spawn a twister, an official with the National Weather Service told Patch.

“We have not seen any evidence of tornado-type damage,” said Tim Morrin, observation program leader with the National Weather Service.

He said the tornado warning, issued around 9:40 Tuesday night, resulted from a strong radar indication of rotation in a thunderstorm that was approaching the south shore of southwestern Suffolk County.

“After a warning is issued we then rely on local law enforcement and trained National Weather Service spotters to identify a funnel cloud or tornado,” Morrin said. “But we have not received any such reports.”

Throughout the day the area was impacted by strong, gusty winds that were clocked as high as 40 to 45 miles per hour. As the storms approached around the time of the warning, Morrin said residents noticing an increase in wind speed were likely impacted by straight-line winds.

“These occur as the result of an outflow or microburst from a thunderstorm,” he explained. “When a thunderstorm collapses downward and the winds spread out, the gusts can be as high as hurricane strength, usually between 60 and 80 miles per hour.”

Damage resulting from straight-line winds is along a straight line, unlike the spiral-like damage caused by a tornado, he said.

Following yesterday’s blustery day, the weather forecast over the next few days in Lindenhurst calls for sunny skies with high temperatures in the low, to mid-70s.

Related:

• Despite Tornado Warning Lindenhurst Reports No Damage 
• Tell Us: Is Severe Weather Now the Norm?
• Tornado Warning Issued for Southwestern Suffolk County until 10 P.M.
• Tornado Watch Issued for Suffolk County until 11 P.M.