NORTHWEST, N.J. — The National Weather Service has confirmed three EF-1 tornadoes touched down Tuesday afternoon as severe storms moved across northwest New Jersey.
The tornadoes occurred in the Stanhope-Mount Olive area, the Lower Berkshire Valley section of Roxbury Township and the Pine Brook section of Montville Township. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
The strongest tornado struck the Lower Berkshire Valley section of Roxbury Township, where the National Weather Service estimated peak winds of 100 to 110 mph. Touching down at approximately 2:15 p.m., the tornado traveled 0.6 miles with a maximum width of 250 yards.
Survey teams found numerous uprooted and snapped trees, downed utility wires and damage along Berkshire Valley Road, Little Lane and Mill Road before the tornado dissipated.
Another EF-1 tornado touched down near the Stanhope-Mount Olive area at approximately 2 p.m. with estimated peak winds of 80 to 90 mph. The tornado traveled 1.4 miles and reached a maximum width of 250 yards, crossing from Mount Olive in Morris County into Stanhope in Sussex County before ending near Netcong.
Surveyors documented extensive tree damage near the Interstate 80 and Route 206 interchange, with additional damage through Stanhope and along the southern shore of Lake Musconetcong. The tornado also caused roof shingle and gutter damage to homes on Koclas Drive before dissipating.
A third EF-1 tornado touched down in the Pine Brook section of Montville at approximately 2:50 p.m. The tornado produced estimated peak winds of 80 to 90 mph, traveled 0.2 miles and reached a maximum width of 70 yards.
The tornado caused primarily tree damage along Windsor Drive and Hook Mountain Road, including uprooted trees, snapped branches and a broken utility pole. It also removed shingles from a home before dissipating before reaching the Passaic River.
The National Weather Service thanked emergency management officials in Morris and Sussex counties, along with local residents, for assisting with damage surveys following Tuesday’s storms.
