Three Tornadoes Touch Down Across New Jersey

Our state experienced a rare weather event Tuesday as three separate tornadoes reportedly touched down across New Jersey during severe afternoon and evening storms, prompting widespread warnings and leaving scattered damage in their wake.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Somerset counties on Tuesday. Most of New Jersey remained under a tornado watch until 9 p.m., with Central Jersey's watch lifted around 7 p.m.

The first reported touchdown came at 3:10 p.m. in Stanhope, where a trained weather spotter witnessed a tornado at the intersection of Interstate 80 and US Route 206, according to the National Weather Service. Social media footage captured the aftermath, showing trees, branches, and power lines strewn across I-80.

Just over half an hour later, around 3:43 p.m., video evidence showed what appeared to be a second tornado touching down in Parsippany. The National Weather Service received the footage documenting the suspected twister.

The third reported tornado began as a waterspout off Cape May Point around 6:13 p.m. ABC Action News captured footage of the waterspout before it moved toward shore and apparently transitioned into a tornado upon reaching land.

These tornadoes remain preliminary reports until the National Weather Service completes its storm surveys, which are expected to be released by Wednesday evening. The agency plans to conduct on-site surveys for the North Jersey touchdowns, while the Cape May Point event will receive a virtual assessment.

"Regarding the Cape May Point tornado, we plan to do a virtual survey as damage was sporadic and the tornado likely dissipated not long after it came ashore," National Weather Service officials said, according to Patch.

While the storms caused property and infrastructure damage, no major injuries have been reported so far. The extent of the damage will become clearer as survey teams complete their assessments.

Tuesday's weather activity represents an unusual concentration of tornado activity for our state. New Jersey typically experiences about two tornadoes per year, and they're generally weak and short-lived, according to state weather officials. Having three potential tornadoes in a matter of hours marks a significant departure from the norm.

Tornado season in New Jersey runs from March through October, though twisters can form any time of year. More than 80 percent of all tornadoes strike between noon and midnight, weather experts say—a pattern that held true for Tuesday's events.

As our community recovers from Tuesday's severe weather and awaits the official storm survey results, residents should remain weather-aware throughout the remainder of tornado season. The National Weather Service's findings will provide crucial information about the strength and path of these storms, helping us better understand what our region experienced.