Rare February tornado that spun through New Jersey rated EF-2
Tuesday's twister in Mercer County, New Jersey, is only the fifth February tornado on record for the state.
Tornado confirmed in NJ on Tuesday, state's 5th February tornado on record
The National Weather Service Mount Holly survey team has preliminarily confirmed a tornado in Mercer County from Tuesday's storm.
MERCER COUNTY, N.J. – A tornado that caused damage Tuesday in central New Jersey during the heart of winter has been rated an EF-2 by the National Weather Service.
The severe storms struck just before the evening rush hour, and enough rotation was detected on Doppler radar to issue a Tornado Warning for communities east of Trenton. Officials in West Windsor Township said they were inundated by calls from residents after the storm alerting them to power lines being down and trees falling into homes.
![Tornado damage in Mercer County, New Jersey.]()
Image 1 of 5Damage to buildings is seen Feb. 22, 2023, after a tornado swept through Mercer County, New Jersey, the day before. ( )
![Waterspout off New Jersey]()
Image 2 of 5Waterspout off New Jersey (Crist Cace)
![Severe storm damage in New Jersey]()
Image 3 of 5Severe storm damage in New Jersey on February 21 ( )
![Severe storm damage in New Jersey]()
Image 4 of 5Severe storm damage in New Jersey on February 21 ( )
![Severe storm damage in New Jersey]()
Image 5 of 5Severe storm damage in New Jersey on February 21 ( )
Officials at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, confirmed Wednesday that the twister touched down in the Quaker Bridge area of Mercer County and was on the ground for nearly 6 miles. Winds reached an estimated peak of 115 mph, which puts it in the EF-2 category of the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
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This map created by the National Weather Service shows the path of a tornado that swept through Mercer County, New Jersey, on Feb. 21, 2023.
(NOAA)
Less than an hour after the initial Tornado Warning, a trained weather spotter captured video of a waterspout off of Sea Girt Township, New Jersey.
The weather enthusiast said the funnel was faint and lasted only a few minutes while harmlessly over the Atlantic Ocean.
There have been no reports of injuries.
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Hail spotted in New Jersey during severe storms
New Jersey residents took video of hail falling during severe storms on Tuesday.
Tornadoes in February are rare but not unheard of in the Garden State.
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This marks the first February tornado on record in Mercer County and only the fifth such twister statewide. The last one happened on Feb. 12, 1999, in Camden County, when an F-1 tornado swept through Cherry Hill and caused about $100,000 in damage.
Tuesday's twister is the strongest February tornado in New Jersey since an F-2 cyclone spun through Hunterdon, New Jersey, on Feb. 2, 1973.