What hit North Jersey on Tuesday afternoon?
WEST CALDWELL, NJ — Severe thunderstorms moved across northern New Jersey Tuesday afternoon, bringing tornado warnings, flash flooding and reports of funnel clouds. In several communities, the weather turned quickly enough that people were told to take shelter as conditions worsened.
Residents described the storm as sudden and loud, with some saying they went to basements or other safe areas after warnings came through on their phones.
How did the storms affect West Caldwell residents?
In West Caldwell, people said the warning and the noise from the storm made the situation feel immediate and unsettling. One resident, Joe Webber, described the sound as a huge crash, while Gerard Strumolo said messages in a group chat alerted him to what was happening outside.
Strumolo said he saw a tornado watch, woke up in a panic and headed to the basement. Another resident, Michael, said he was surprised to see such severe weather in New Jersey and compared it with the kind of storms people often associate with the Midwest.
What signs of rotation were reported elsewhere?
Video from Parsippany appeared to show a funnel cloud forming as the storms passed through Morris County. The report did not say whether the footage had been confirmed, but it added to the concern as the severe weather moved eastward.
In Morristown, heavy rain quickly turned streets into standing water within minutes of the tornado warning. The flooding underscored how fast the storm system was moving and how different hazards were arriving at the same time.
What did the National Weather Service say?
The National Weather Service said two tornadoes appear to have formed in Morris County, along with a waterspout in Cape May. The agency has not yet finalized the findings, but the initial assessment suggests the storms produced multiple rotating systems across the state.
An NWS survey team is scheduled to be in New Jersey on Wednesday to determine the size and scope of the twisters. Those findings will help confirm whether the suspected tornadoes touched down and how far they traveled.
What happens after Wednesday's survey?
Once the survey team completes its work, officials are expected to have a clearer picture of how many tornadoes formed and where the strongest damage occurred. That review will also help separate confirmed tornadoes from other storm reports, including funnel cloud sightings and flooding.
For now, the main takeaway is that Tuesday’s severe weather disrupted parts of North Jersey fast, with warnings, water over roadways and possible tornado activity all unfolding in a short window.
Bronxville News keeps New York and the region covered, day and night.