F2 Tornado — Ocean, New Jersey

1999-08-20 · near Beach Haven, Ocean, New Jersey

Wider weather episode

A strong waterspout formed over the Atlantic Ocean just southeast of Beach Haven and moved northwest. It became a tornado as it moved across Long Beach Island around 350 p.m. EDT along the Beach Haven/Long Beach Township border. It briefly reached F2 intensity (on the Fujita Scale) as it crossed the island thus becoming one of the strongest tornadoes that ever started as a waterspout. It was also the first strong (F2 or F3 tornado on the Fujita Scale) tornado to occur in Ocean County since July 21, 1983. The tornado crossed back into Little Egg Harbor thus becoming a waterspout again and dissipated before reaching Barrel Island. Damage was estimated at 4.2 million dollars. About 35 homes and buildings were damaged as were about 50 vehicles and 5 boats. The worst damage occurred to the Sea Spray Motel. The motel and two other homes were condemned in Long Beach Township. One woman staying at the motel was injured (severe hand laceration) by flying glass. About 165 persons were displaced, 150 of them were vacationing at the Sea Spray Motel. The tornado also knocked down two main transmission lines from the mainland to the substation on Long Beach Island. About 3,100 homes and businesses lost power, mainly in the vicinity of the tornado. All power was restored around 10 p.m. EDT. The tornado's path length was about 0.4 of a mile and its path width was about 100 yards. The highest winds were estimated at 120 mph. A house on Nelson Street on the northern side of the tornado measured a peak wind gust of 95 mph. The tornado started as a waterspout in the Atlantic Ocean. It moved northwest and made landfall in the Holgate section of Long Beach Township. An oceanfront house on South Bay Avenue suffered severe window and siding damage and also had its chimney knocked down. This was one of the three condemned structures. The tornado also sent the home's recliner airborne and snapped several trees. Several houses surrounding this one suffered minor damage. The tornado then crossed the main street of Long Beach Boulevard and then inflicted major damage to the Sea Spray Motel. The tornado plucked a section of the roof covering nine rooms, and tore the eaves off another section of roof above eight other rooms. Many windows were shattered and debris from the hotel was found 1,000 feet away. The motel's back wall became structurally unsound and its roof landed on and badly damaged a playground on Nelson Avenue. The motel's chain link fence also was knocked down. The third home that was condemned was on the back (northwest) side of the motel as flying debris damaged it. The tornado continued to move northwest along the township border. Numerous homes had windows damaged, siding and shingles stripped and garage doors and decks ripped away. Barbecue grills and lawn furniture (some stuck in trees) were tossed. Numerous trees were also snapped. On Nelson Avenue, one of the more heavily damaged houses in Beach Haven lost its garage and two air conditioning units were blown into the home. The residents found a 1 by 2 board driven into the house's siding. Another nearby deck beam had a 12 inch stake driven into it. The tornado entered Little Egg Harbor near Grosser Street and sunk a boat. The waterspout dissipated on the bay before reaching Barrel Island. Damage in Long Beach Township was estimated at 4 million dollars, a third of which was damage to the Sea Spray Motel. Damage in Beach Haven Borough was estimated at 200,000 dollars. Other thunderstorms over the nearby Atlantic also caused tragic results. The violent weather offshore apparently capsized a 23 foot long wellcraft about 70 miles southeast of Atlantic City. Three men on board drowned. One body was recovered about 30 miles east of Cape May.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5717996. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.