On Thursday, September 25, 2025, residents across New York’s Catskills region were jolted by an unexpected and powerful force of nature—a tornado that touched down in the hamlet of Hazel, located in the northern Sullivan County town of Rockland. According to the National Weather Service in Binghamton, the tornado struck early in the afternoon, catching many off guard despite earlier forecasts warning of possible severe thunderstorms. The event marks the seventh tornado to hit New York state in 2025, underscoring a season of turbulent and sometimes tragic weather.
For those living in Hazel and the surrounding areas, the day began like any other late September Thursday. The air was thick with humidity, and the sky hinted at the possibility of rain. But as the afternoon approached, heavy thunderstorms rolled through the Catskills and the Hudson Valley, unleashing drenching rains that blanketed the region. While severe weather alerts had been issued, few residents expected a tornado to materialize with such little warning.
The suddenness of the event was driven home when one person found themselves trapped inside their vehicle as the tornado swept through. Rescue crews acted swiftly, managing to extricate the individual without further injury, according to reports highlighted by New York Upstate. The fact that no one was seriously hurt in this particular incident was a relief, especially considering the devastation tornadoes can bring.
Radar images confirmed the tornado’s presence, and the National Weather Service wasted no time in validating what many on the ground already knew: a tornado had indeed touched down. Power lines were brought down as the storm barreled through, leaving pockets of the community without electricity and prompting a rapid response from emergency crews. The aftermath saw neighbors checking on one another, sharing stories of the storm’s intensity, and, in some cases, surveying minor property damage.
This tornado, though brief, is part of a larger pattern of severe weather that has touched New York state throughout the year. While 2025 has not matched the record-breaking tornado activity of 2024, the state has still seen its share of dramatic and, at times, deadly storms. Earlier in the summer, tragedy struck the hamlet of Clarks Mills when a tornado claimed the lives of three people. As reported by The New York Post and The Post Standard, twin 6-year-old girls and a 50-year-old woman were killed in late June, making it the second deadliest tornado in New York’s history.
These recent events have prompted many New Yorkers to reflect on the state’s history with tornadoes—a history that, while not as notorious as that of the Midwest, still contains its share of harrowing episodes. According to the Democrat and Chronicle, there have been three recorded F4 tornadoes in New York, each leaving its own mark on the state’s collective memory. The first occurred on August 28, 1973, in Columbia County, where it swept over mostly open land before continuing into Massachusetts. The second was part of a deadly outbreak on May 31, 1985, which began near Erie, Pennsylvania, and then crossed into New York, affecting multiple states and even Ontario, Canada.
Perhaps the most dramatic of all was the nearly mile-wide tornado that touched down in Montgomery County on July 10, 1989. This massive storm remained on the ground for a staggering 42 miles, carving a destructive path through Greene, Montgomery, Schoharie, and Albany counties. The sheer scale of these historic tornadoes serves as a stark reminder that, while rare, the Empire State is not immune to the most severe forms of this natural phenomenon.
As New Yorkers grappled with the aftermath of the Hazel tornado, a similar scene was unfolding hundreds of miles away in Benton. On the same day, a brief EF-1 tornado swept through a neighborhood, and for the first time, the event was captured on a doorbell camera. The video, reported and published on September 26, 2025, offered a rare and unsettling glimpse into the raw power of a tornado as it passed through a residential area. The footage quickly circulated online, drawing attention from meteorologists, emergency officials, and curious viewers alike.
The Benton tornado, while not as severe as some of the state’s historical storms, still left an impression on the community. The EF-1 rating, which denotes winds between 86 and 110 miles per hour, was enough to cause minor structural damage and send debris flying. For residents, the video served as a vivid reminder of the need for preparedness, even in places where tornadoes are not a common occurrence.
Both the Hazel and Benton incidents are part of a broader trend in which technology is playing an increasingly important role in documenting and understanding severe weather events. The proliferation of doorbell cameras, smartphones, and social media has made it possible for ordinary people to capture extraordinary moments, providing valuable data for meteorologists and emergency responders. In the case of the Benton tornado, the doorbell camera footage not only confirmed the storm’s presence but also helped officials assess its path and intensity.
Despite the advances in forecasting and technology, the unpredictability of tornadoes remains a challenge. As the National Weather Service noted, the Hazel tornado struck with very little warning—a fact that underscores the importance of heeding weather alerts and having a plan in place. For many in the Catskills and the Hudson Valley, the events of September 25 served as a wake-up call, prompting renewed discussions about community preparedness, emergency response, and the need for resilient infrastructure.
Looking forward, experts caution that while tornadoes in New York are relatively infrequent compared to other parts of the country, the risks are real and may be increasing as climate patterns shift. The stories of Hazel, Clarks Mills, and the historic F4 tornadoes offer sobering lessons about the power of nature and the importance of vigilance. As one local official put it, "We were lucky this time, but we can’t take anything for granted."
In the end, the tornadoes of 2025 will be remembered not just for their immediate impact, but for the resilience and quick action of the communities they affected. From the rapid rescue efforts in Hazel to the neighbors checking on one another in Benton, these storms have once again shown that when disaster strikes, New Yorkers are ready to lend a hand—and to learn from the past as they prepare for whatever comes next.
