A combination of a pre-frontal trough and a passing upper level disturbance produced an isolated severe storm in the morning, yielding a waterspout around Breezy Point to Near Plumb Beach. An approaching cold front yielded another line of strong severe storms in the afternoon across the waters around Long Island.

Waterspout in NEW YORK HARBOR, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 09:59:00 to 08-SEP-12 10:01:00 (EST-5)
Location: SANDY HOOK BAY
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is the third segment in a four segment combined waterspout and tornado event. The storm originated as a waterspout about 1 mile south of the tip of Breezy Point around 10:56 am and moved northeast, making landfall about 2500 feet northeast of the tip of Breezy Point, Queens, near the Breezy Point Surf Club, around 10:58 am. The storm then crossed Breezy Point Queens as an EF0 tornado from 10:58 to 10:59 am, before reemerging into the eastern arm of Lower New York Harbor approximately 12500 feet west of Rockaway Inlet. Based on photographic and video evidence showing a waterspout near the southwest and northeast points of the track, and no radar evidence of weakening of the circulation, there is no reason to believe the waterspout was not continuous as it traversed the New York Harbor from 10:59 to 11:01 am. The waterspout then crossed land to the southeast of Plumb Beach in Kings County/Brooklyn about 11:01 am. The EF1 tornado continued northeast to Canarsie, Brooklyn where it lifted at 11:05 am.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO SANDY HOOK NJ OUT 20NM, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 17:06:00 to 08-SEP-12 17:06:00 (EST-5)
Location: STATION SDHN4
Magnitude: 34.00 MG
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A gust of 34 knots was measured at the National Ocean Service location at Sandy Hook.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in LONG ISLAND SOUND W OF NEW HAVEN CT TO PORT JEFFERSON NY, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 17:10:00 to 08-SEP-12 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: STATION 44022
Magnitude: 34.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A gust of 34 knots was measured at the mesonet station at Bayville.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in SOUTH SHORE BAYS FROM JONES INLET THROUGH SHINNECOCK BAY, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 18:00:00 to 08-SEP-12 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FIRE ISLAND INLET
Magnitude: 35.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A gust of 35 knots was measured at the mesonet station at Gilgo Beach.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO SANDY HOOK NJ OUT 20NM, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 18:00:00 to 08-SEP-12 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FIRE ISLAND INLET
Magnitude: 35.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A gust of 35 knots was measured at the mesonet station at Gilgo Beach.

Waterspout in FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO SANDY HOOK NJ OUT 20NM, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 09:56:00 to 08-SEP-12 09:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: SANDY HOOK BAY
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is the first segment in a four segment combined waterspout and tornado event. Based on eyewitness accounts and video evidence a waterspout formed about 1 mile south of the tip of Breezy Point around 10:56 am and moved northeast, making landfall about 2500 feet northeast of the tip of Breezy Point, Queens, near the Breezy Point Surf Club, around 10:58 am. The storm then crossed Breezy Point Queens as an EF0 tornado from 10:58 to 10:59 am, before reemerging into the eastern arm of Lower New York Harbor approximately 12500 feet west of Rockaway Inlet. The waterspout then moved northeast and crossed land to the southeast of Plumb Beach in Kings County/Brooklyn about 11:02 am. The EF1 tornado continued northeast to Canarsie, Brooklyn where it lifted at 11:05 am.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in NEW YORK HARBOR, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 16:36:00 to 08-SEP-12 16:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROBBINS REEF
Magnitude: 37.00 MG
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Gusts of 35-37 knots were measured at the National Ocean Service location at Robins Reef.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in NEW YORK HARBOR, ATLANTIC NORTH
From 08-SEP-12 17:06:00 to 08-SEP-12 17:06:00 (EST-5)
Location: STATION SDHN4
Magnitude: 34.00 MG
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A gust of 34 knots was measured at the National Ocean Service location at Sandy Hook.