Brief but severe storm sweeps through NYC, tornado warning for Brooklyn and Staten Island

Brief but severe storms sweeps through NYC

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.

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.