The city is cleaning up from a batch of thunderstorms that struck overnight.

Riverside Drive was closed from 97th Street up to 105th Street, after the strong storms knocked down trees and flooded the roadway.

Many cars in the area were dented or had windows smashed by falling branches.

"We figure there are hundreds of trees that are damaged or down in Riverside Park and Central Park," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, who lives in the area. "We brought in crews from three boroughs to work here in Manhattan last night. They worked through the night. The biggest problem we have now is we had many trees that were damaged from very high up from the intensity of the winds, and all of those trees have to be checked."

The storm made a narrow, but devastating path through Manhattan.

"It seems like it made a path across the Hudson River, right through this narrow path of Riverside Drive and Riverside Park between 97th and 103rd, kept going east through Central Park where it caused a great deal of devastation between 90th and 100th," said Benepe. "Even on Randall's Island we have lots of trees down."

Some residents thought a tornado had struck the neighborhood.

"At one point my wife she said, 'Let's go look at the window,' and we looked out the window and it was torrential. I mean, it was almost white," said one local.

"It was like a tornado last night. I live on Riverside," said another. "The wind came down a corridor, we heard these crashes, branches were falling, some loud crashes, signal lights. I think roof furniture on the ground from like 20 stories."

"We've been here 15 years and never have I seen a rainstorm like that coming up the street," said a third. "You couldn't see the other side of the street."

Downed trees also damaged cars parked along Central Park West.

It could take several days for the Parks Department to check and prune all damaged trees, so those who walk through Riverside and Central Parks should look out for hanging limbs.

While the storm passed quickly around 10:30 p.m. yesterday, it was strong enough to down scaffolding near Jefferson and Madison Streets on Manhattan's Lower East Side, seen right.

No one was hurt in the collapse.

The rain did not break the heat and humidity, as a heat advisory remains in effect.

Cooling centers are open in all five boroughs including many senior centers.

To find the nearest cooling center, visit NYC.gov/OEM or call 311.