Tornado strikes Long Island beach clubs in Atlantic Beach

An EF-1 tornado struck Atlantic Beach on Long Island during a severe storm on Thursday evening, causing significant damage to local beach clubs. The National Weather Service confirmed the touchdown, noting that radar data and video of a waterspout moving onshore supported the finding. This marks the first confirmed tornado in Nassau County since 2021.

The Sun and Surf Beach Club sustained extensive damage, with operators reporting that approximately one-third of its 115 cabanas were damaged or destroyed. While debris removal is underway, the club remains closed with no current timeline for reopening. In contrast, its sister club, Silver Point Beach Club, escaped major destruction and reopened on Saturday.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency and activated the county’s Emergency Operations Center in response to the intensifying storms. No serious injuries were reported following the event.