The National Weather Service has confirmed that more than one tornado touched down in New Jersey during the severe storms that swept across the region on Tuesday. After a day of assessing damage on the ground and reviewing images, forecasters began piecing together just how many twisters were spun up by the powerful storm system that battered the tri-state area.
In northern New Jersey, the weather service confirmed a tornado in the Stanhope area that struck around 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Forecasters said they did not yet have specifics on the strength or the path of that tornado, but the confirmation added hard evidence to what many residents had suspected as the skies darkened and winds tore through their neighborhoods.
A second tornado was confirmed in the Berkshire Valley section of Morris County, one of the hardest hit areas in the storms. Crews there spent the day clearing enormous trees that had toppled onto front yards and roadways, while utility workers raced to lift downed wires off the ground. Forecasters said they were still assessing the Parsippany-Troy Hills area for a possible additional tornado.
The reach of the storms extended all the way to the Jersey Shore. In South Jersey, the weather service confirmed an EF0 tornado at Cape May Point that began as a waterspout out over the water before moving ashore. Officials said it carved a narrow path of tree damage before quickly dissipating, sparing the area from the kind of destruction a stronger tornado can bring.
Beyond the tornadoes, the storms unloaded torrential rain and damaging winds across the region. Parts of Westchester County recorded nearly five inches of rain, with trees uprooted and branches snapped off. In the village of Rye Brook, downed power lines sparked a small fire in the street, and the village reported about 20 power outages as crews worked to restore electricity and clear roads.
Despite the widespread destruction to trees, wires and roadways, officials say the region avoided the worst possible outcome. No injuries have been reported from the storms or the confirmed tornadoes, a fact that residents and emergency officials alike described as fortunate. As the cleanup continues, the weather service is expected to release more details on the strength and paths of the tornadoes.