NEWARK, NJ — Two tornadoes were confirmed in northern New Jersey on Tuesday as severe weather swept through the Tri-State Area, bringing down trees, knocking out power and causing flash flooding in several communities. The National Weather Service said teams would head out Wednesday to examine the damage and determine the storms’ strength.
Officials said one tornado touched down in Stanhope in Sussex County and the other in Parsippany-Troy Hills in Morris County. A later update from the weather service said three tornadoes were eventually confirmed in northern New Jersey.
What happened in Stanhope?
In Stanhope, police said most of the damage was limited to major roadways and that no injuries were reported. On Route 206 near Interstate 80, trees were blown down along the highway, and one fell onto a power line and caught fire.
Residents described seeing the storm arrive quickly. One witness said the sky changed color before cars pulled under an overpass, while another said the wind seemed to come out of nowhere and sent debris moving in every direction.
What was reported in Parsippany-Troy Hills?
In Morris County, emergency management officials said they watched the tornado from their windows as calls began pouring into the 911 center. Director Jeffrey Paul said staff could see the rotation as the storm passed through the area.
At the peak of the outage, nearly 1,000 customers lost electricity, but officials said no injuries were reported in the county. Paul said the response was calmer than during a previous storm that had brought a heavier call volume.
How did the storms affect travel and roads?
The weather caused widespread disruptions beyond the tornado zones. CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave said his flight to Newark Liberty International Airport was diverted to Philadelphia after the captain said Newark’s tower had been evacuated because of tornado concern.
Airport operations were strained through the day, with ground stops, delays and cancellations adding to a rough stretch for air travel. Van Cleave said the region had seen more than 6,000 canceled flights and more than 30,000 delays since Saturday.
What are officials warning residents to do now?
Gov. Mikie Sherrill urged residents to take tornado warnings seriously, saying the alerts are issued because the threat is imminent. She said the state Department of Transportation activated its operations center to help keep roads safe during the evening commute.
Officials also warned drivers not to enter flooded streets after heavy rain turned roads into rivers in places including Stanhope, Dover, Lodi and Hackensack. In Hackensack, several drivers had to abandon their cars until the water receded.
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