On September 17, 2010 a tornado swept through parts of Queens and Brooklyn. According to the National Weather Service, a macroburst with winds reaching 125 mph hit the Forest Hills neighborhood where I live. This tornado was rated an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. I have no idea what that means but damage to old trees was extensive. 3000 trees were lost. The upper 2/3 of a 30' evergreen in my back yard snapped off and landed in my neighbor's yard.