The National Weather Service confirmed Friday evening that a small tornado touched down in New Jersey during a powerful thunderstorm that placed large portions of New Jersey – including Lakewood, Jackson, Toms River and Manchester – under tornado warnings.
The EF-0 tornado, with a width of 200 yards and reaching speeds of up to 80 mph, traveled a distance of 3.4 miles across Southampton and Pemberton townships in Burlington County, starting from Burrs Mill Road and concluding near remote blueberry fields at approximately 1 p.m., as per the weather service’s statement.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the tornado. The impact of the tornado primarily involved minor tree damage, with uprooted trees observed near Stockton Bridge Road, a residential property, and remote areas. Downed limbs were also discovered in a nature preserve along Jade Run.
According to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, an EF-0 tornado is classified as the weakest category, with maximum speeds reaching up to 85 mph. The scale ranges from EF-0, denoting “weak,” to EF-5, indicating “violent,” for tornadoes with speeds exceeding 200 mph.
