Thunderstorm Wind — Atlantic, New Jersey

2012-06-29 to 2012-06-30 · near Buena, Atlantic, New Jersey

Event narrative

A gust front outrunning a cluster of severe thunderstorms entered near Buena in western Atlantic County at approximately 12:49 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 Atlantic County. One thunderstorm cell in particular experienced rapid intensification and expansion as it tracked across the eastern part of the county. Destructive wind gusts, measured around 75 mph, resulted in significant tree and power line damage county-wide. Based on the extensive damage, winds were estimated to be as high as 90 mph in areas across the county. There were seven homes that were destroyed, forty-nine that suffered major damage, fifty-two that suffered minor damage and forty-two that were affected.

Several wind gusts in association with the gust front passage or cluster of intense thunderstorms were measured across the county by trained spotters, mesonet sites, and ASOS equipment. The strongest measured wind gust across Atlantic County was recorded in Absecon at 74 mph by a retired NWS employee at 1:05 am EDT on the 30th. Several locations in nearby Atlantic City also recorded significant wind gusts. A 66 mph gust was measured at a mesonet station in Atlantic City at 1:11 am EDT on the 30th. At the Atlantic City Marina, a 64 mph gust was measured by the NOS platform at 2:00 am EDT. The ASOS equipment at the Atlantic City International Airport (KACY) recorded a wind gust of 58 mph at 1:13 am EDT. Elsewhere, a 64 mph gust was measured at a mesonet station in Mullica Township at 1:15 am EDT, and a 60 mph gust was recorded in Estell Manor by a NWS cooperative observer at 1:00 am EDT. Finally, a 50 mph gust was measured by a resident in Somers Point at 1:00 am EDT. Severe thunderstorms exited eastern Atlantic County, including Atlantic City, at approximately 2:02 am EDT on the 30th.

Extensive damage occurred across Atlantic county as a result of the strong wind gusts associated with the gust front and cluster of severe thunderstorms, and a State of Emergency was declared in the county. An idle 727 aircraft was moved and damaged by the derecho at the Atlantic City International Airport. Numerous large trees and electric wires were knocked down in many communities, including Estell Manor, Northfield, Mays Landing, Egg Harbor City, Hamilton Township, Galloway Township, Linwood, Margate City, Egg Harbor Township, Ventnor City, Longport, and Atlantic City. As a result, much of the county was affected by long-term power outages, and numerous roads were impassable. Atlantic City Electric reported approximately 105,000 of its customers lost power. In addition to the widespread tree and power line damage, structural damage was also significant across the county, with trees blown down onto houses in Buena and Absecon and shingles blown off of homes in Somers Point. Thousands of customers experienced power outages for about one week. Approximately 1,400 Atlantic City Electric customers that had lost power during the early morning of June 30th did not have their electricity restored until July 8th. Several communities, including Linwood, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, and Brigantine, provided air-conditioned cooling centers as temperatures soared into the 90s during the week following the derecho.

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.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 393681. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.