Tornado Watch In Effect For Nassau County: NWS

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A tornado watch is in effect for Nassau County until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS stated the tornado watch began at 2:05 p.m. and is in effect for all of New York City and parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania – Suffolk County is not listed. The tornado watch was issued by the NWS in collaboration with the Storm Prediction Center.

Nassau County has a 5 percent probability of a tornado, and conditions are favorable for that today, the NWS told Patch.

"We have scattered thunderstorms today combined with strong wind speeds," the NWS said. "It's creating a good probability for potential tornado development conditions."

Suffolk County is not in a current tornado watch, with the probability only at 2 percent, the NWS said. Both Nassau and Suffolk Counties are under a "life-threatening" rip current risk effect through Wednesday.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Carl Erickson said the severe threat will diminish later this evening after 9 or 10 p.m.

"The primary threat from storms this afternoon into this evening will be flash flooding and damaging winds," Erickson said. "However, a stronger storm can also produce a tornado."

The Long Island Rail Road and MTA shared on social that heavy rain is expected in their region and to plan for extra travel time. Commuters can visit the MTA's website, the TrainTime app, or call 511 for current service information.