Weather

Tornado Confirmed In NJ As Next Storm Moves In: Latest Updates

One tornado touched down in Somerset County, and another may have moved into Warren County from Pennsylvania according to early surveys.

This story was last updated at 6:12 p.m. Tuesday.

NEW JERSEY — Authorities have confirmed at least one tornado touched down in New Jersey as a result of Monday's storms, as residents brace for another round of severe weather expected to bring high winds and rain Tuesday.

The NWS confirmed a tornado touched down in Somerset County on Monday night. Officials are also assessing the exact path of a tornado that damaged communities in Warren County and eastern Pennsylvania.

Find out what's happening in Flemingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

New severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued in parts of New Jersey as another line of showers and storms moves into the region, bringing the threat of flooding and high winds.

The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings in Burlington and Camden counties until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Find out what's happening in Flemingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"At 608 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Evesham, or 11 miles east of Gloucester City, moving northeast at 20 mph," said forecasters.

Radar indicated wind gusts of 60 miles per hour are possible, and quarter-sized hail according to the NWS.

Storms began redeveloping in the area around noon, and will persist this afternoon and into the evening according to the National Weather Service. Isolated damaging winds, hail and flash flooding are all possible as another 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall, the weather service said.

Flood watches remain in effect in 11 counties, as the amount of rainfall Monday and so far Tuesday has swelled rivers and creeks. Part of Morris County is under a flood warning, as well, for the Rockaway River at Boonton Below Reservoir.

The counties under a flood watch are Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, Mercer, Middlesex, Camden, Gloucester, and parts of Burlington and Monmouth counties.

"Remain weather aware, especially if your area received significant rain yesterday or last night," said the NWS.

Monday’s storms also saw severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, as well as widespread power outages.

One tornado was confirmed in Somerset County on Monday. Another that caused damage in Warren County touched down somewhere between there and Martin's Creek, Pennsylvania according to the National Weather Service. The NWS is also investigating if wind damage in Hunterdon County was caused by a tornado.

Meteorologists said a tornado happened in the Bernardsville area of Somerset County, but did not have further details as to exactly where in their first report Tuesday afternoon.

Farther north, a tornado is confirmed to have damaged an area between Martin's Creek and Belvidere. Officials did not say exactly where the tornado touched down.

The National Weather Service also sent storm survey teams to a third location, investigating a path from Flemington to Readington in Hunterdon County where numerous trees and power lines were down. A storm spotter also reported damage to several houses and barns.

More details, including the path length and path width, will be available later Tuesday night according to the NWS.

All three counties were under a tornado warning on Monday evening. Weather radar indicated rotation in the area, and the NWS said their survey teams will investigate if the damage was caused by tornado activity or straight line winds.

National Weather Service forecasters said they do not expect Tuesday’s storms to be as strong as Monday’s, “but at least some isolated flash flood warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings can't be ruled out.”

Most of the Garden State is under a “marginal” risk of severe weather, save for the northeastern most point, which is anticipated to see a lower risk. That's compared to Monday's “enhanced” risk of numerous severe and persistent storms south of I-95, and the northern region's "slight" risk.

AccuWeather said locations along the Eastern Seaboard from North Carolina up through southern Vermont will experience this wet, windy weather into Tuesday evening "thanks to the influx of moisture from the Atlantic."

"Once again, damaging winds will be the most widespread risk, but downpours are also expected to be heavy during this time," AccuWeather.com forecasters added.

Wet weather with scattered storms is expected to linger in the state until at least mid-week, when the daily threat of thunderstorms significantly lowers from Thursday to Sunday.

Here is a look at the forecast through Friday around New Jersey:

North Jersey

Tuesday afternoon: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Humid with lows in the mid 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Humid with highs around 80. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy with showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Thursday: Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Thursday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

Friday: Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

South Jersey

Tuesday afternoon: Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and small hail. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Near steady temperature around 80. South winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening, then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and small hail in the evening. Locally heavy rainfall possible in the evening. Humid with lows in the mid 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Wednesday: Partly sunny. Humid with highs in the lower 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Friday night: A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

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