Tornadoes Strike Delaware and Nassau County, Causing Flash Flooding and Power Outages in US North-east

Tornadoes hit Dover, Delaware, and Nassau County, New York last Thursday, with the Nassau storm rated EF-1 and peak winds of 97 mph.

Original report
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Industry impact

Severe convective weather events like these underline the exposure of regional airport operations and general aviation to short-notice storm-driven disruption in the north-east.

Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes struck the north-eastern United States last Thursday, causing damage and disruption across the region. A tornado hit Dover, Delaware, while a separate tornado was reported near Atlantic Beach in Nassau County, Long Island, New York.

The National Weather Service rated the Nassau County tornado EF-1, with peak winds of 97 mph (156 kph), and it was the first tornado recorded in the county since November 2021. The storm damaged buildings and beach cabanas, and heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding and power cuts.

Separately, the UK Met Office said a powerful El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean could be the strongest on record, with sea surface temperatures in the affected region forecast to climb more than 3°C above average later this year, which would surpass records dating back to 1950; some forecasts suggest temperatures could reach 4°C above average. India has already experienced weaker-than-average monsoon rainfall, and Atlantic hurricane activity has been suppressed.