NWS – Telemundo New York (47)

NEW JERSEY – The National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office says it is investigating whether a tornado may have briefly touched down in Camden County when a powerful line of thunderstorms slammed into the tri-state area early Thursday.

The bureau tweeted that the possible tornado hit around 5 a.m. and may have affected several areas near Deer Park Circle and Erial Road in Gloucester Township. Trees were said to fall in the area about 15 minutes before that possible tornado.

Radar data showed a rotational signature and there was also a debris signature evident for a time, according to La Autoridad en El Tiempo (LAEET). Images from our helicopter showed a giant tree on top of a house in the area under investigation, as well as other damage.

More information from the National Weather Service is expected later in the day.

Falling trees were said to have damaged power lines in Ocean and Monmouth counties, causing 100 power outages as the storms moved northeast toward New York City.

Intense, though isolated, wind gusts impacted parts of the Garden State and other points in the tri-states early; torrential rains were a major problem in the New York City area.

Wind gusts topping 40 mph and pea-sized hail were reported in places from Brooklyn and Queens to Suffolk County and parts of Connecticut, though early reports indicated no immediate damage from severe weather. The heaviest rain fell overnight and quickly receded, tapering off in the city around 7 am, even as the sky remained dark.

Ultimately, a widespread accumulation of 1 to 2 inches of water was expected throughout the New York City area. Isolated locations, generally southwest of the city, were expected to see up to 3 inches.

Parts of central to southern New Jersey were expected to see the most rain, from Hunterdon and Somerset counties to the Philadelphia area, which is where the National Weather Service is focusing its latest attention.

Severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of the Garden State expired early, but flood watches remain in effect for several counties in all three states.

The weather turned quite nice once the rain died down, with highs expected Thursday afternoon in the upper 70s to near 80 degrees. Friday presents more of the same.

Rain returns to the area on Saturday, and is also possible on Sunday, although neither day is expected to be heavy. However, cloudiness will dominate, along with cooler temperatures in the 70s to 70s Celsius.

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