Knocked down trees and fallen debris left mess up and down central and southern New Jersey. News 4’s Jessica Cunnington reports.
What to Know
- At least four tornadoes touched down in New Jersey late Saturday as a line of storms pushed east through the tri-state area
- Details on the tornadoes was limited Sunday, but the National Weather Service was expected to release more info on the storms in Howell, Jackson, Sea Girt and Cinnaminson
- There were no widespread reports of any injuries or deaths as a result of the storm, but several thousands customers were without power
A line of violent storms roared into the tri-state area Saturday night, triggering a flurry of warnings as tornadoes hit southern and central New Jersey while thunder boomed amid frequent lightning further north.
In Monmouth and Ocean County, widespread damage the next morning was shown in the scattered tree branches and debris thrown about a number of towns. Power was disrupted for thousands and some weren't expected to see lights back on until Monday.
The National Weather Service dispatched officials to damaged areas on Sunday to inspect the aftermath. They eventually confirmed tornadoes in Howell, Sea Girt and Jackson. A fourth was also detected further west in Cinnaminson.
More detailed reports on the tornadoes, including strength and extent of impact were expected by late Sunday or Monday, the service said.
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Thrashing winds took off the entire roof off a home in Howell, when a family of five was inside at the time. Not far away, another home had been pierced by debris picked from another residence. And around the corner, a tree landed right into the side of Kim Silva's home.
"My mom lives with us, so she was like hiding in the closet because you don't know if something's going to come on the house, which way to go. It's just scary," Silva said.
Disaster relief crews with the American Red Cross made the rounds Sunday, directing people to shelters and available warming centers to aid in the widespread outages.
More signs of damage from the tornadoes was visible in broken fences and a mangled trampoline.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service were on the ground inspecting the aftermath and surveying damage left by what they later determined was four separate tornadoes.
"Unfortunately, New Jersey of late seems like it tends to be a hotspot for tornadic activity," said Nelson Vaz, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS.
Back in February, a tornado touched down in Mercer County, which also faced a warning Saturday night. Such occurrences are rare. It was the sixth time a tornado had hit that month of the year since 1950.
Radar indicated 60 mph wind gusts in Sussex County, New Jersey, where a late severe thunderstorm warning was issued. The system had largely moved out after 9 p.m., and a severe thunderstorm watch that had covered virtually the entire tri-state area, including all five boroughs of New York City, was canceled. Check radar here.
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What's Next? Check Out the 10-Day Forecast
Temperatures crashed back into the 30s Sunday morning after highs near 70 on Friday. We should ultimately see Sunday highs in the 50s, though it'll still feel cool. The weather improves for Monday as highs climb back into the low 60s with partly sunny skies.
Showers are possible again Tuesday and through the middle of the week, with temperatures expected to linger in the mid-60s at least through Thursday.
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