NWS to Survey Damage After Tornadoes Hit New Jersey and Delaware

Tornadoes touched down in Delaware and New Jersey on Thursday, leaving behind downed trees, collapsed structures, and flooded roadways across the region.

The National Weather Service is preparing to survey the extent of the destruction following the severe weather that struck Thursday afternoon. On Friday morning, the agency confirmed that a tornado touched down near Old York Road in Chesterfield, New Jersey. Survey teams are currently heading to Burlington County, New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware, to determine the specific size and strength of the storms, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.

While the physical impact was widespread, no serious injuries have been reported. Local dispatch centers struggled to keep up with the sudden surge in calls during the height of the storm.

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“While weather events like this one are always challenging, we are relieved that no serious injuries have been reported and that property damage from this storm appears manageable,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, liaison to the County Department of Public Safety.

Emergency responders manage high call volumes

The intensity of the weather event was reflected in the data from local emergency communications. The Burlington County Central Communications team received 1,662 emergency and non-emergency calls between 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, and 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Of those, approximately 1,300 incidents required the dispatch of police, fire, or EMS personnel.

In Chesterfield Township, the fire department reported numerous incidents involving damaged homes, property damage, flooding, and downed power lines. The storm’s path through the area resulted in several roadway closures, including:

Here are where our survey teams are headed for tomorrow to examine damage from the storms earlier this afternoon. The full results of those surveys will be issued sometime Friday afternoon or Friday evening. #NJwx #DEwx pic.twitter.com/7bWuetoXsU

— Post by @NWS_MountHolly on X

Old York Road between Route 528 and Route 545
Chesterfield-Crosswicks Road between Waln Road and Margerum Road
White Pine Road between Route 545 and Route 68
Route 545 southbound between Old York Road and White Pine Road

The tornado near Chesterfield marks a notable statistical occurrence for the area. According to the Rutgers University State Climate Office and the National Weather Service, this was the 10th confirmed tornado in Burlington County since 2004.

Severe weather impacts Delaware and Pennsylvania

The storm system was not contained to New Jersey. In Newark, Delaware, severe weather included lightning strikes that caused localized destruction. One viewer reported a strike that destroyed hanging lights on a fence and traveled underground, displacing dirt and stripping leaves from plants.

Colder air and wind chills arrive as rain continues

As the strongest storms moved out on Friday, a wind shift brought colder air into the region. Temperatures dropped into the 40s on Thursday night, accompanied by wind gusts reaching up to 35 mph. On Friday, wind chills are expected to make temperatures feel as though they are in the 30s.

Although the most violent weather has passed, rain from the same system is expected to continue throughout Friday. The National Weather Service is expected to issue its full survey results regarding the tornado strength sometime Friday afternoon or Friday evening.