QUEENS, NY— The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning Thursday afternoon for areas near Queens County after radar detected rotation in a severe thunderstorm over Rockaway Beach.
At 1:39 p.m., the storm was moving northeast at 10 mph and could produce a tornado and hail the size of quarters, according to the National Weather Service's Upton office.
The storm was expected to reach Kennedy Airport around 1:45 p.m.
The weather service warned that flying debris could endanger people without shelter.
The storm could damage or destroy mobile homes, damage roofs, windows and vehicles and bring down trees.
Residents in the warned area should move immediately into a sturdy building, stay away from windows and shelter in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor.
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