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The 2006 Westchester County tornado was an F2 tornado that touched down in Rockland County, New York, on July 12, 2006. It traveled 13 miles (21 km) into southwestern Connecticut during a 33-minute span through two states. The tornado touched down at 3:30 p.m. EDT on the shore of the Hudson River before becoming a waterspout and traveling 3 mi (5 km) across the river. Coming ashore, the tornado entered Westchester County and struck the town of Sleepy Hollow at F1 intensity. After passing through the town, it intensified into an F2 tornado and grew to almost a quarter of a mile (400 m) in diameter, making it both the strongest and largest tornado in the county's history. The tornado continued through the county, causing damage to numerous structures, until it crossed into Connecticut at 4:01 p.m. EDT. Not long after entering the state, it dissipated in the town of Greenwich at 4:03 p.m. EDT. The tornado left significant damage in its wake. Two barns and a warehouse were destroyed, and a large stained-glass window was shattered. Numerous homes and businesses were damaged and thousands of trees were uprooted. There were no fatalities and only six minor injuries were associated with the storm. Damages from the tornado totaled $12.1 million. (more...)

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July 12: National Day of Commemoration in Ireland (2009); The Twelfth in Northern Ireland

• 1543 – King Henry VIII of England married Catherine Parr (pictured), his sixth and last wife, at Hampton Court Palace.
• 1790 – The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed, a law that subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government.
• 1862 – The Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, was first authorized by the U.S. Congress.
• 1943 – World War II: Nazi German and Soviet forces engaged each other at the Battle of Prokhorovka, one of the largest tank battles in military history.
• 1979 – The Gilbert Islands gained independence from the United Kingdom and became known as Kiribati.
• 2006 – Hezbollah forces crossed the Israel–Lebanon border and attacked Israeli military positions while firing rockets and mortars at Israeli towns, sparking the July War.

• More anniversaries: July 11 – July 12 – July 13

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