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The National Weather Service has now confirmed four tornadoes touched down on Tuesday, July 21 during the intense storms.
All of the tornadoes were rated as EF-1 on a scale of EF0 to EF5. The four tornadoes were:
- Mount Olive and Stanhope tornado
- Lower Berkshire Valley tornado
- Pine Brook tornado
- Cape May Point tornado
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Earlier, the NWS had confirmed two, but updated to four during Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, a supposed Parsippany tornado apparently left no damage in the town, according to town officials.
Here is a look at the four tornadoes with prelimary surveys from the NWS Mount Holly.
Mount Olive and Stanhope tornado
This Morris County tornado began in Stanhope at 2 p.m. and ended at 2:05 p.m. in Netcong (1.4 miles). The estimated peak wind from the NWS was 80-90 mph. The estimated width was 250 yards. There were no fatalities or injuries reported.
The NWS survey revealed: "Extensive tree damage was noted near the interchange of Interstate 80 and Highway 206. The path of tree damage continued towards Continental Drive. There was a discontinuous tree damage path through Stanhope. The next area of damage was noted on the southern shore of Lake Musconetcong. At residences along Koclas Drive, tree damage was observed. Some shingles were blown off the roof of one residence and gutter damage was noted at another residence. The distinctive path of damage appeared to end at Koclas Drive."
Lower Berkshire Valley tornado
This Morris County tornado occurred in Roxbury Township from 2:15 p.m. to 2:17 p.m. (0.6 miles). The estimated peak wind from the NWS was 100-110 mph. The estimated width was 250 yards. There were no fatalities or injuries reported.
The NWS survey revealed: "An EF-1 tornado occurred in the Lower Berkshire Valley section of Roxbury Township... The tornado began on the west side of Berkshire Valley Road, between the Morristown & Montclair-Boonton NJ Transit line and Interstate 80, uprooting several trees. The tornado continued to the northeast, causing additional damage along Berkshire Valley Road, north of I-80. In this area, a softwood pine tree was snapped about halfway up along its trunk. Continuing northeast, the tornado crossed through a neighborhood along Little Lane. Numerous trees and wires weredamaged in this area, including a large, healthy, hardwood tree being uprooted... The tornado proceeded northeast, damaging numerous additional trees and wires as it crossed Mill Road, before dissipating."
Pine Brook tornado
This Morris County tornado occurred in Pine Brook (Montville) from 2:50 p.m. to 2:51 p.m. (0.2 miles). The estimated peak wind from the NWS was 80-90 mph. The estimated width was 70 yards. There were no fatalities or injuries reported.
The NWS survey revealed: "A EF-1 tornado touched down behind the ridgeline on Windsor Drive in the Pine Brook section on Montville... The tornado generally tracked northeast where a path of mainly tree damage was found. A large uprooted tree and several large branches were found to be snapped in a couple of backyards along Hook Mountain Road. Photos were passed on by local residents of a broken power pole which was snapped at its base which was also lying across Hook Mountain Road. The tornado continued onward, removing some shingles from a house, before crossing over Hook Mountain Road and dissipating ... before reaching the Passaic River."
Cape May Point tornado
This Cape May County tornado occurred off Cape May Point from 6:15 to 6:16 p.m. (0.255 miles). The estimated peak wind from the NWS was 60-70 mph. The estimated width was 30 yards. There were no fatalities or injuries reported.
The NWS survey revealed: "A waterspout was witnessed going on shore the beach at Cape May Point. A narrow path of tree damage was noted along Lincoln Avenue, Yale Avenue, and near the intersection of Oxford Ave and West Lake Drive. At least one witness saw the funnel cloud proceed into Lake Lily, but no other damage was noted."
What is scale of tornado ratings?
Tornadoes are assigned a rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale. The rating is based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. Here are the ratings:
- 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
- EF5 - over 200 mph
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Four confirmed tornadoes touched down in NJ. Here are NWS reports
