Brief but severe storm sweeps through NYC, knocks down trees; tornado warning issued

Brief storm sweeps through NYC, knocks down trees

NEW YORK — A brief but severe storm has swept through New York City, uprooting trees and damaging cars.

The National Weather Service on Thursday issued a tornado warning for Staten Island and Brooklyn. The warning was in effect until 6 p.m.

Brooklyn resident Steven Harris says seven or eight rooftops blew off on his street. He says trees fell and knocked down power lines.

In the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn witnesses say the sky went pitch black at about 5:30 p.m. Trees started waving around like blades of grass. Large branches snapped and hit cars, smashing windshields.

There have been no reports of injuries.