Tornado Warning in New Jersey: What You Need to Know

What Happened?

The National Weather Service (a government group that tells us about weather) sent out a tornado warning (an alert saying a tornado might happen soon) for parts of Ocean County in New Jersey, including a place called Long Beach Island. This happened because strong thunderstorms (big rain and lightning storms) were moving across many areas of New Jersey.

What the Warning Said

The tornado warning was in effect until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. It told people in the warned areas to:

• Go inside a sturdy building right away
• Stay away from windows

Important: If a tornado actually touches the ground, things like flying broken pieces (debris) and damaged trees could seriously hurt people who are outside.

Why Was the Warning Issued?

The National Weather Service usually sends a tornado warning when:

• Someone sees a funnel cloud (a spinning cloud shaped like a cone) on the ground, OR
• Radar (a machine that sees weather using radio waves) shows wind going in circles, which can mean a tornado is forming.

Other Weather Alerts

While the storms were slow-moving and hitting Ocean and Burlington counties, the weather service also sent out:

• Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings (alerts for dangerous storms)
• A flash flood warning (alert for sudden flooding)

Also, they said quarter-sized hail (ice balls as big as a coin) was possible.

Wind Reports

The National Weather Service got several reports of very strong wind gusts (sudden bursts of wind) in Ocean County during the thunderstorms. The exact list of those reports was not included in the original information.

Update on the Warning

UPDATE: The tornado warning ended at 8:30 p.m. Right after it ended, there were no immediate reports of a tornado actually being on the ground.

Current Weather Radar

Below is a picture from the weather radar showing the storms at the time:

Where to Read More

You can read the original article on NJ.com. You can also add NJ.com as a Preferred Source on Google by clicking here.

Summary

A tornado warning was issued for parts of Ocean County, New Jersey (including Long Beach Island) as strong thunderstorms moved through. People were told to shelter in sturdy buildings and avoid windows. Other warnings for severe storms and flash floods were also sent. The warning expired at 8:30 p.m. with no tornado immediately reported on the ground.

FAQ

What is a tornado warning?

It is an alert from the National Weather Service saying a tornado might happen in your area soon, so you should protect yourself.

What should I do during a tornado warning?

Go inside a strong building, stay away from windows, and don’t go outside where flying debris and trees could hurt you.

Was a tornado confirmed?

No. When the warning ended at 8:30 p.m., there were no immediate reports of a tornado on the ground.

What other dangers came with the storms?

Severe thunderstorm warnings, a flash flood warning, and possible quarter-sized hail.