On July 25, 2010, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms in the Tri-State Region, with a near 2% chance of a tornado touching down within 25 mi (40 km) of a given area.

[2] An upper-level trough situated over eastern Canada tracked eastward and was accompanied by a cold front that trailed southward into the Mid-Atlantic states.

[3] Thunderstorms that began along the eastern Great Lakes, in Pennsylvania and upstate New York, moved southeastward towards the Atlantic seaboard along a low-level jet stream.

The highest risk of tornadoes was in eastern Pennsylvania where low-level wind shear and high Convective available potential energy (CAPE) values were present.

These storms tracked generally towards the east-southeast and were noted as having a chance to develop into bow echo, leading to a high risk of damaging winds.

[6] Ahead of these storms, surface heating from days of above-average temperatures (exceeding 90 °F (32 °C)) and a moist air mass provided significant instability, another factor favoring thunderstorm formation.

At 2:46 p.m. EDT, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Upton, New York issued a severe thunderstorm warning for much of the Tri-State Region.

[8] Beginning in Bergen County, New Jersey, a line of wind damage took shape due to the storm as it moved ever closer to New York City.

The system continued through the Bronx for roughly five minutes before it lifted near the intersection of Riverdale Avenue and 254th Street,[10][11] about 1 mi (1.6 km) from where it began.

[9] The thunderstorm that spawned the tornado left a trail of wind damage from northeastern New Jersey through Long Island along its nearly two-hour existence.

[12] In Pedricktown, a large tree fell on a home and broke through the roof, allowing heavy rain to fall inside the structure.

[15] Along Palisade Avenue, nearly half a dozen companies provided assistance in tree removal with wood chippers, cherry pickers and dump trucks to clear the streets.

Due to the large amount of downed wires, residents living along Ladd Road north to Sigma Place were urged to remain in their homes for their own safety until ConEd crews had cleared the area.