Thunderstorm Wind — Salem, New Jersey

2012-06-29 to 2012-06-30 · near Pennsville, Salem, New Jersey

Event narrative

A gust front outrunning a cluster of severe thunderstorms entered near Pennsville in western Salem County at approximately 12:19 am EDT on the 30th. This gust front produced damaging wind gusts estimated from 65 to 70 mph as it traversed eastward across the county. Within approximately 20 minutes of the gust front passage, a potent line of severe thunderstorms tracked eastward into Salem county. One thunderstorm cell in particular experienced rapid intensification and expansion as it tracked into southern New Jersey. Destructive wind gusts, estimated at 75 mph, resulted in significant tree and power line damage county-wide. Severe thunderstorms exited eastern Salem County, including the town of Elmer, at approximately 1:06 am EDT on the 30th.

Widespread damage occurred across Salem County as a result of the strong wind gusts associated with the gust front and cluster of severe thunderstorms. One home was destroyed, another suffered major damage. Three other homes suffered minor damage and one other was also affected. Numerous large tree limbs blew down in the town of Elmer. The Little Acres Farm in Pittsgrove Township had about four dozen 80-foot trees completely uprooted. Approximately 70 trees were knocked down onto roadways across the county, resulting in numerous road closures. Several hundred large trees were knocked down or damaged in Parvin State Park (Pittsgrove Township) in eastern Salem County, and two fatalities resulted. Two young boys, ages 2 and 7, were killed when the top half of a 40 to 50 foot pine tree snapped off due to high wind gusts and landed on the camping tent where they and other family members were taking shelter. The two boys were cousins, one from nearby Franklin Township (Gloucester County) and the other from Millville (Cumberland County). An intense cluster of thunderstorms tracked over eastern Salem County at 12:50 am EDT on the 30th, producing wind gusts estimated between 70 to 75 mph.

Thousands of customers lost power across the county as a result of extensive tree and wire damage, with many areas experiencing power outages for up to one week. Some customers did not have their power restored until after the 4th of July. As a result, Salem County Emergency Services and the American Red Cross established air-conditioned cooling centers in Woodstown and at the Pittsgrove Township Municipal Building as temperatures soared into the 90s during the week following the derecho.

Damage estimates for Parvin State Park alone are approximately $500,000 as several buildings were damaged and hundreds of trees were either knocked down or damaged. More than a month following the derecho, the majority of the park remained closed to the public as clean-up efforts continued. The swimming beach and concession stand at the park did not reopen until the weekend of July 21st - 22nd. Through early August 2012, some 938 trees have been removed from the park, and damaged large limbs from another 989 trees have been hauled away. Park officials anticipate that much of the park will remain closed to the public for months.

Wider weather episode

A well-organized cluster of thunderstorms with a history of producing widespread damaging winds advanced into a hot, unstable airmass over the Mid Atlantic. This derecho produced widespread, significant wind damage from southern New Jersey southward into the Delmarva during the late evening and overnight of the 29th. Salem, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties were hit the hardest. The counties were battered by the derecho which downed trees, power lines and poles, sparked fires and destroyed some homes.

There were three storm related deaths, two boys camping in Salem County and a man whose boat capsized in Absecon Bay in Atlantic County. A preliminary damage assessment put the cost at around $20 million for the three counties. In all sixteen homes were destroyed, ninety-two suffered major damage, one hundred eighty-seven suffered minor damage and another one hundred and twelve were affected by the derecho. In addition, forty-one businesses suffered major damage and three hundred twenty-nine suffered minor damage. A state of emergency was declared in Atlantic County. Governor Chris Christie mobilized the National Guard to help provide fuel and water. President Barack Obama has issued a disaster declaration for parts of South Jersey in the wake of the derecho. The president ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in Atlantic, Cumberland and Salem counties. Federal funds will be available to state and local governments and certain nonprofit private organizations. Atlantic City Electric reported 206,000 of its customers lost power; 105,000 of the homes and businesses were in Atlantic County. On Sunday July 1st, 119,000 of its customers were still without power. The utility restored power to its last customers on July 11th. Meanwhile in Cumberland County, Vineland Electric expected its remaining 1,800 customers that lost power to have it restored during the week of July 9th.

Strong thunderstorm development began across the Midwest and Lower Great Lakes regions during the afternoon of the 29th, with storms initiating across northern Illinois, near Chicago. Strong mid-level winds and an unstable airmass contributed to rapid development as well-organized storms progressed from northern Illinois through Indiana and Ohio. This robust convection continued to track southeastward into an airmass that was even more unstable due to abundant daytime surface heating. Late afternoon temperatures had peaked mainly in the mid to upper 90s with high humidity throughout the Mid Atlantic states, and as the potent thunderstorm cluster progressed from the Great Lakes to the central Appalachians and into the Mid Atlantic by late evening, thunderstorm activity was reinvigorated.

A robust gust front outpaced the main thunderstorm line, producing strong wind gusts as it traveled from the eastern shore of Maryland into Delaware and southern New Jersey. Shortly thereafter, the potent thunderstorm line tracked through the region, with additional damaging wind gusts. One cell in particular around Baltimore, MD experienced rapid intensification and expansion as it raced eastward into northern Delaware and southern New Jersey. This massive cell produced extreme damage throughout Salem, Cumberland, and Atlantic Counties in New Jersey. Damage to trees, power lines, and buildings was also significant throughout Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland. Thunderstorms also dropped hail in several locations, ranging from penny to golf-ball size. Destructive wind gusts, between 65 mph to nearly 90 mph, were measured as this derecho tracked from the Lower Great Lakes to the Mid Atlantic coast.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.6500, -75.5200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 393653. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.