Weather authority confirms 'whirlwind gust' in Southern New Jersey on Friday, stirring winds exceeding 100 mph.
Gustnado Plays Havoc in Gloucester County, New Jersey
During a storm system that swept through the region on Friday, a gustnado, a small whirlwind occurring in thunderstorm outflows, snapped trees in Gloucester County, New Jersey, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
The agency reported that multiple rounds of storms wreaked destruction across the region, including the rare gustnado in Gloucester County. The phenomenon, which peaked at speeds of up to 105 miles per hour, endured for less than a minute.
Gustnadoes differ from tornadoes, as they do not connect with any cloud-base rotation. Despite this, they can cause damage similar to that of some stronger dust devils. A gustnado forms along the leading edge of outflow boundaries from thunderstorms, especially gust fronts or downbursts, rather than deep, rotating updrafts.
Damage to a home on North Blue Bell Road was reported, with several hardwood tree trunks snapped and large softwood branches removed. The weather service indicated that video received from the homeowner showed the trees falling after a sudden wind shift, with radar data supporting the presence of a strong rear-flank downdraft in the vicinity, which likely sparked the brief gustnado.
In Gloucester and Atlantic counties, a tornado with estimated speeds between 90 to 95 miles per hour persisted for 11 minutes, travelling from Williamstown to Collings Lakes, covering a width of 300 yards. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in Friday's storms.
Forecasts predict that rain will impact the Philadelphia region again this week, with 100% precipitation expected on Wednesday.Stay tuned for updates on these developing storms.
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- The gustnado that caused destruction in Gloucester County, New Jersey, on Friday, was a phenomenon often observed in environmental-science studies, as it can reveal insights about the climate-change effects on weather patterns.
- Despite the agencies' reports of multiple rounds of storms across the region, the impact of climate-change on storm intensities and frequency is still a subject of intense debate within the realm of science, underscoring the importance of ongoing environmental-science research.
