Tornado's Winds Reached 130 MPH In Jackson: National Weather Service

JACKSON, NJ — A tornado that touched down in Jackson on Saturday night was an EF2 and had winds reaching 130 mph, the National Weather Service said Monday.

The weather service report on the tornado, one of four confirmed in New Jersey so far, with three more damaged areas to be inspected in South Jersey, said the tornado left a path of damage about 200 yards wide and just over 2 miles long as it traveled along West Commodore Boulevard.

Scattered power outages remain as crews from Jersey Central Power & Light continue to repair wires and equipment damaged by the tornado, with about 670 homes still without electricity as of 6:30 p.m. Monday. JCP&L officials said they hoped to have service restored to nearly all of those affected by late Monday night.

The tornado formed along a "rotating supercell within a line of thunderstorms," the report said. It first touched down near Patterson Road, just off West Commodore Boulevard and moved east about three-quarters of a mile, carving a path of damage 200 yards wide across homes on the north side of Stonehenge Court before going across homes and businesses across Wright-Debow Road and Hamilton Road.

"Dozens of large hardwood and softwood trees were snapped or uprooted in a convergent pattern," the report said. Power poles were downed or snapped, fences demolished, and sheds, small outbuildings, and dumpsters were flipped or moved.

"Despite the significant tree damage, generally only minor siding and roof shingle damage was noted," the report said. "This damage was consistent with EF1 winds of 90 to 110 mph."

At that point, the tornado appeared to have "strengthened to its greatest intensity as it continued east, across a cleared and paved area, to a newly built large warehouse development."

The weather service report said the southern half of the warehouse, which was made of several three-story concrete pre-fabricated tilt-up walls on both the east and west side, tied together with a metal roofing system above, "collapsed in an eastward direction."

That damage and the construction of the building led to the EF2 determination, with "high-end" wind of 120 to 130 mph that brought down dozens of trees on the south side of the building, the report said. The east-side parking lot had uprooted trees or trunks snapped laying in an east-northeast direction.

From there the tornado moved east-southeast for about three-quarters of a mile, still about 200 yards wide, passing just north of Gastime, the gas station at the corner of Diamond Road and West Commodore Boulevard, then following West Commodore again, the report said.

"The most extensive tree and powerline damage was seen along West Commodore road, with hundreds of mature hard and soft wood trees uprooted or snapped in a convergent pattern, numerous power poles downed or snapped, as well as roofing and insulation debris from the warehouse being littered along the way," the report said. That damage was "consistent with winds of 100 to 120 mph."

As the tornado reached homes at Indiero and Oak Tree lanes, on the south side of West Commodore Boulevard, it appeared to be weakening to an EF0, the weather service said. The tree damage in that area was scattered and there was only minor siding and roof shingle damage, and the path of damage reduced to about 100 yards wide.

"The tornado likely occluded just before reaching the Land O Pines Mobile Home Park, where the tornado path ended," the report said.

The National Weather Service said a tornado that caused intense damage in the Aldrich and Ramtown sections of Howell Township touched down in Aldrich and knocked out two poles at the New Prospect Road power substation in Jackson.

Residents seeking updates for specific damage locations can also call 888-544-4877 or text STAT to 544487 for updates specific to their outages, the JCP&L said.

In addition to a swath of damage along West Commodore Boulevard, officials with Adventure Crossing reported damage to their facilities. Photos shared by the Ocean County Sheriff's Office showed the recreation facility's bubble has been damaged, and the company said the Adventure Golf and Entertainment center is closed until further notice.

Jackson Township opened a warming center for those in need, at the township's senior center on Don Connor Boulevard.

"Please do not hesitate to take advantage of this location if needed," Jackson police said. "If a ride is needed, please contact the police department for assistance."

The Red Cross is providing fresh water, and JCP&L is offering free water and ice through the ShopRite in Howell for those in need.