The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down in New Jersey yesterday as part of a multi-state tornado outbreak that impacted many states from the Ohio Valley to the Mid Atlantic. According to the Mount Holly, New Jersey office of the National Weather Service, the Friday tornado hit just south of Hammonton as severe storms were moving through.
According to the preliminary report released by the local National Weather Service Office, the tornado touched down at 12:52 pm in the area of Collings Lakes just south of Hammonton in Atlantic County. The tornado had estimated peak winds of 65-75 mph, making it an EF-0 rated tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories: EF0: 65 to 85 mph, EF1: 86 to 110 mph, EF2: 111 to 135 mph, EF3: 136 to 165 mph, EF4: 166 to 200 mph, and EF5: >200 mph.
The National Weather Service Report says the tornado traveled for 1/2 mile and had a maximum width of 25 yards. No fatalities nor injuries were reported.
The tornado was brief and only lasted on the ground for about a minute.
“There were downed and some metal roof sheeting was peeled off an out building. Continued damage, mostly large branches downed continued near the intersection of Cains Mill Road and Colton Lane. The last observed damage in this path was near the intersection of Cloverdale Lane and Wiltshire Drive,” the National Weather Service report said. They added, “More sporadic tree damage was noted along Cains Mill Road further south, but was determined to be due to straight line winds.”
The National Weather Service has also determined that a tornado occurred starting in Dorchester County, Maryland and continued into Sussex County Delaware, in the area south of Bethel. A more comprehensive analysis of that tornado is expected on Sunday. The National Weather Service has also conducted a storm survey in Gloucester County, New Jersey; meteorologists are still reviewing data and reports, and a determination on that damage will be available with the final assessment also expected on Sunday.
