Tornado Touched Down Amid Friday Storms In South Jersey, Officials Say

BUENA VISTA, NJ — A small tornado traveled through Gloucester and Atlantic counties for several miles amid strong thunderstorms Friday afternoon, National Weather Service officials said.

The 300-yard wide EF-1 tornado touched down at 12:42 p.m. in Williamstown and traveled 8.6 miles before it stopped in Buena Vista at 12:53 p.m., the National Weather Service said in a Monday afternoon update.

That was longer than the initial report, which said the tornado traveled one half-mile. The tornado's grade was also updated, its estimated peak wind was 90-95 mph, officials said.

"After analyzing additional storm damage, it was determined the tornado in Collings Lakes originated in Williamstown near the intersection of Janvier Rd and Tuckahoe Rd where a large hardwood tree fell across Janvier Rd and some siding from the corner of a house peeled off," the National Weather Service said in the Monday update. "The tornado then moved SSE crossing Birch Ave where several hardwood trees were snapped at the trunks. This is where the tornado reached its greatest width of 300 yards."

"Traveling SE from there, where it likely lifted at times, the tornado crossed W Malaga Rd near the Victory Lakes community, damaging a wood fence and several small tree branches," officials said. "Continuing its discontinuous path SE, a telephone pole was snapped near the intersection of E Piney Hollow Rd and US 322 before moving SSE again towards the Collings Lakes neighborhood."

Along with the Williamstown-Collings Lakes tornado, Friday's severe storms created another tornado that started in Maryland and moved into Delaware, the National Weather Service said.

A rare "gustnado" that reached 100-105 mph winds damaged part of Franklinville Friday, officials said. This is "a small, whirlwind which forms as an eddy in thunderstorm outflows," according to the National Weather Service. It's similar to a dust devil.