Storms and possible tornadoes pummel the Northeast US, flooding roads and damaging beaches
Aug 20, 2026, 7:18 PM
NEW YORK (AP) — Heavy rain and winds pounded the Northeast U.S. on Thursday as storms tore through a beach on Long Island, flooded a major New York freeway and knocked out power in parts of Delaware’s capital city.
Photos and video shared on social media show debris thrown in the air and pummeling rain as a possible tornado touched down at Atlantic Beach on Long Island’s outer barrier. It tore apart a major beach club, leaving broken beach chairs and wood beams littered across the shoreline.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said there were no reports of serious injuries or deaths, but there had been damage to property and a search team was making sure no one was trapped in the cabanas. He declared a state of emergency.
“There are reports of people trapped in their vehicles due to flooding in the south shore, and first responders are assisting in their rescue,” he said in a statement.
The National Weather Service had warned of waterspouts, tornado-like hazards that happen over water, in the area but wasn’t able to immediately confirm a tornado on the beach.
Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist for the weather service in New York, said the storm was moving East offshore Thursday evening and was expected to taper over the next several hours.
In other parts of New York, flooding caused part of the Long Island Expressway in Queens to close in both directions, according to New York City Emergency Management. Photos on social media show lines of stopped cars as emergency crew wade through the water.
A likely tornado touched down in Dover, Delaware, and caused significant damage across the city, the police department reported.
“Dover — please take this seriously. Stay home. Stay safe,” the department said on Facebook.
Photos and video online show fallen trees, downed power lines and flooded roads.
The Delaware Electric Cooperative said more than 1,000 people didn’t have power in the northern part of its service area.
There were flash flood warnings in parts of eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the weather service said.
