Severe storms leave behind damage on Long Island
RONKONKOMA, N.Y. -- Fast-moving storms slammed Long Island with power winds, heavy rain and hail Thursday evening, and now some communities are dealing with a big mess.
The storm that blew through Suffolk County took down trees and power lines, and debris blocked roads in some neighborhoods.
As CBS2's Thalia Perez reports, the storm was short, but it unleashed whipping winds that did a lot of damage quickly.
In Ronkonkoma, there were trees down on multiple cars and power lines.
Fred Foster, who works at a Ronkonkoma 7-Eleven, says the wind was so violent, it sent everyone in the store running for cover.
"The hail was coming down, hitting the windows and everything, and then before, everything turned white and before you know it, trees were coming down," he said.
It was just after 6:30 p.m. when Forster says the winds and storm conditions became severe and dangerous on Smithtown Boulevard and Metzsner Road.
"The hail was so bad, it shattered the window. Looked like rocks. It broke the window and everything," he said.
The wind swept multiple trees and power lines down on top of cars in the parking lot and street.
"I thought the whole front end was gonna blow in, that's how bad," Forster said.
There were reports of widespread wind damage in other parts of Suffolk County, as well.
Video captured hail the size of round silver dollars falling in Selden.
In Farmingville, violent winds took a tree down and, along with it, power lines that started smoking. The mess stretched down the street.
Conditions calmed down a short time later, but the storms still left their mark.
Hundreds of PSEG Long Island customers were without power.
