New York City residents, utility crews and railroad workers have cleaned up debris after a brief but fierce storm swept through the city, killing at least one person as it tore up trees, stripped roofs and disrupted train services.

The National Weather Service dispatched investigators today to assess whether a tornado touched down last night during the storm.

Tornado warnings were issued for the Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens city boroughs.

Officials at Long Island Rail Road, the largest commuter rail line in the US, said crews worked through the night to clear tracks of fallen trees.

Alfonso Quiroz, a spokesman for Consolidated Edison, said at least 30,000 customers were without power last night.

Police said a 30-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell on a parked car in Queens.

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