In the afternoon hours of November 16, 1989, a relatively weak but deadly tornado would move north through Orange County, located in the state of New York.

Despite causing relatively little damage for the majority of its path, late in its life the tornado blew down a free-standing cafeteria wall located at the East Coldenham Elementary School, killing nine students and injuring eighteen others.

Soon after the issuance of the watch, emergency management officials, storm spotters and the NWS staff at Huntsville placed into effect a coordinated plan of action in accordance with established procedures.

[1] Official records state that the tornado touched down to the south in Monroe at approximately 12:31 p.m. EST (17:31 UTC), moving north for around nine miles (14 km) to the East Coldenham area.

[7][8] The disaster received a tremendous amount of national and international media coverage at the time of the tragedy because most major news media outlets were at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, just ten miles away, to cover the awarding of the Sylvanus Thayer Award to former President Ronald Reagan, and accordingly were on site within minutes.