# Tornado and flooding on Long Island

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tornado-and-flooding-on-long-island
> Updated: 2026-08-23T15:25:44.000Z. Sources: 35. Developments: 3.

On August 20, 2026, a rare waterspout transitioned into a tornado that struck Atlantic Beach on Long Island. The storm caused significant damage to coastal structures, specifically impacting the Sun and Surf Beach Club and the Silver Point Beach Club. Reports indicated that approximately 50 cabanas at the Sun and Surf location were damaged or destroyed. 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency to assist with cleanup. While one employee sustained a minor head injury, no hospitalizations were reported. The event was accompanied by severe storms and heavy rainfall that caused widespread flooding across the New York metropolitan area, affecting subway stations in Manhattan and parts of the Long Island Expressway.

On August 23, the National Weather Service confirmed the event as an EF-1 tornado, 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. 

Updated assessments of the damage show that the Sun and Surf Beach Club sustained extensive destruction, with operators reporting that approximately one-third of its 115 cabanas were damaged or destroyed. The club remains closed with no current timeline for reopening. Conversely, the Silver Point Beach Club escaped major destruction and reopened on Saturday. Nassau County also activated its Emergency Operations Center in response to the intensifying storms.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-23: Tornado touches down in Atlantic County, New Jersey

A brief tornado touched down in a wooded, marshy area of Atlantic County, New Jersey, causing no reported damage or injuries.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tornado-touches-down-in-atlantic-county-new-jersey

### 2026-08-23: Tornado strikes Long Island beach clubs in Atlantic Beach

An EF-1 tornado struck Atlantic Beach, Long Island, causing significant damage to the Sun and Surf Beach Club. No serious injuries were reported, and a state of emergency was declared in Nassau County.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tornado-strikes-long-island-beach-clubs-in-atlantic-beach

### 2026-08-21: Atlantic Beach tornado causes significant damage on Long Island

A rare tornado, formed from a waterspout, struck Atlantic Beach on Long Island, damaging dozens of beach club cabanas. Nassau County declared a state of emergency amid widespread storm flooding.

30 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nassau-county-declares-state-of-emergency-after-tornado-hits-atlantic-beach

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Cite as: Tornado and flooding on Long Island. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tornado-and-flooding-on-long-island