✅The National Weather Service confirmed 4 tornadoes touched down in NJ on Tuesday.

✅Three EF-1 tornadoes hit NJ and an EF-0 tornado briefly came ashore in Cape May Point.

✅The storms marked New Jersey’s biggest tornado outbreak since April 2023.

The National Weather Service’s survey teams have determined that three tornadoes touched down in North Jersey and one in Cape May County during Tuesday’s strong thunderstorms.

The storms, all EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, were in Mount Olive and Stanhope, Lower Berkshire Valley and Pine Brook. A virtual survey also determined a waterspout in Cape May was a tornado that went about 30 yards on land before dissipating. There were no injuries from the storms.

A virtual survey determined that an EF-0 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale touched down around 6:15 p.m. in Cape May Point with winds between 60 and 70 mph. New Jersey 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said there was probably a waterspout over the Barnegat Bay near Island Beach State Park, but there’s no way to confirm that as it did not make landfall and did not cause damage.

They were New Jersey’s latest tornadoes since May, when an EF-1 storm tracked on the ground for over 8 miles through Gloucester County, according to Zarrow. It was also the biggest tornado outbreak since April 2, 2023, when six were spotted in New Jersey.

Cape May Point

Damage survey results for Cape May Point tornado Tues., July 22, 2026 (NWS)Damage survey results for Cape May Point tornado Tues., July 22, 2026

A virtual survey determined that an EF-0 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale touched down around 6:15 p.m. in Cape May Point with winds between 60 and 70 mph. Witnesses said a waterspout came ashore and quickly dissipated. It traveled 30 yards along Lincoln Avenue, Yale Avenue, and near the intersection of Oxford Ave and West Lake Drive.

“At least one witness saw the funnel cloud proceed into Lake Lily, but no other damage was noted,” the team said.

Lower Berkshire

Damage survey results for the Lower Berkshire tornado Tues., July 22, 2026 (NWS)Damage survey results for the Lower Berkshire tornado Tues., July 22, 2026

The EF-1 tornado in the Lower Berkshire section of Roxbury developed on the west side of Berkshire Valley Road, between the Morristown & Montclair-Boonton NJ Transit line and Route 80, uprooting several trees. It continued to the northeast, causing additional damage along Berkshire Valley Road, north of Route 80
80, where a softwood pine tree was snapped about halfway up along its trunk.

“Continuing northeast, the tornado crossed through a neighborhood along Little Lane. Numerous trees and wires were damaged in this area, including a large, healthy, hardwood tree being uprooted,” according to the survey team.

The tornado proceeded northeast, damaging numerous additional trees and wires as it crossed Mill Road, before dissipating.

Mount Olive and Stanhope

Damage survey results for Mount Olive and Stanhope tornado (National Weather Service)Damage survey results for Mount Olive and Stanhope tornado

The Mount Olive and Stanhope tornadoes caused “extensive” tree damage near the interchange of Routes 80 and 206, according to the National Weather Service survey team.

“The next area of damage was noted on the southern shore of Lake Musconetcong. At residences along Koclas Drive, tree damage was observed. Some shingles were blown off the roof of one residence and gutter damage was noted at another residence. The distinctive path of damage appeared to end at Koclas Drive,” the survey team said.

Pine Brook

Damage survey results for Pine Brook tornado Tues., July 22, 2026 (NWS)Damage survey results for Pine Brook tornado Tues., July 22, 2026

The tornado in the Pine Brook section of Montville touched down around 2:50 p.m. on Windsor Drive, creating a path of mainly tree damage, including a large uprooted tree. Residents shared photos of a broken utility lying across Hook Mountain Lane.

“The tornado continued onward, removing some shingles from a house, before crossing over Hook Mountain Road and dissipating around 2:51 PM EDT before reaching the Passaic River,” the survey team.

Active tornado seasons

Zarrow said New Jersey averages two to three tornadoes a year, although we have had a few very active years lately — 2021 and 2023 tie for the 2nd most annual tornadoes on record with 13 apiece.

“Remember, a tornado is a very specific weather phenomenon with a very specific definition. It is a violently rotating column of air that descends from the base of a thunderstorm cloud to the ground,” Zarrow said. “If it is not rotating, if it is not violent, if does not connect to a parent thunderstorm, and/or if does not touch the ground, it is not a tornado – it is something else.”

Zarrow said the safest place to be during any severe storm, especially a tornadic storm, is on the lowest level of a sturdy building, keeping away from windows.

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Damage from Severe Thunderstorms of Friday, July 3

A strong line of thunderstorms moved across New Jersey late in the afternoon of Friday, July 3 bringing down trees onto utility poles and knocking out power for thousands.

Gallery Credit: Dan Alexander