The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado has indeed touched down in Jackson and Howell townships yesterday.
The tornadoes are believed to be separate from each other due to a gap in the damage path between the two areas.
A survey team has been on the ground all morning in multiple area throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties, assessing whether the damage was caused by a tornado, or thunderstorm related winds.
In addition, the National Weather Service says another tornado made landfall near Cinnaminson and Sea Girt townships as well.
The tornado in the Cinnaminson area was later determined to be an EF-1, with peak winds of 100mph, and was on the ground from 6:59 to 7:05pm.
The storm began approximately 7:30 PM Shabbos evening with large hail in some areas, then switching to strong winds, including gusts of over 70 mph, and heavy rain.
Residents are reporting downed trees, wires and poles, along with damaged property as a result of the storm.
See here for photos of the damage from around the area.
More information will be released later this evening.
“Thank you for confirming the tornado,” a Jackson resident tweeted to the National Weather Service on Sunday. “I was tossing and turning around in bed all last night trying to figure out whether my next door neighbor’s home was destroyed by a thunderstorm or a tornado. Now, however, my question has been answered, and I can sleep in peace tonight knowing that my initial assessment was indeed correct and that my neighbor’s home, car and all his possessions were indeed destroyed by a tornado, and not a violent thunderstorm.”
“I hate it when I’m wrong,” he added.