Thunderstorm Wind — Gloucester, New Jersey

2015-06-23 · near Paulsboro, Gloucester, New Jersey

Event narrative

The wind damage from a powerful macroburst started to cause considerable wind damage in eastern parts of Greenwich Township. This then continued farther to the southeast in Gloucester County. There were multiple reports of hundreds of trees and wires down in the Gibbstown area of the township. The roof of Saint Michael's Convent was damaged after it was lifted 10 to 15 feet into the air from the rest of the convent. The roof of a pet store also collapsed. A tree fell through a home on Cucinotta Road. Telephone poles fell across Harmony Road.

Wider weather episode

The combination of an unseasonably hot and humid air mass, an approaching cold front and strong winds aloft caused a squall line of severe thunderstorms to move through southern New Jersey during the very late afternoon and early evening of the 23rd. Estimated wind gusts as high as around 85 mph knocked down thousands of trees and caused structural damage to homes and vehicles, mainly from fallen trees. Four direct injuries were reported. Many roadways were closed because of downed trees into the 24th. Hardest hit were Burlington, Camden, Atlantic and in particular Gloucester County. Gloucester County declared a state of emergency. The region suffered approximately 31 million dollars in property damage and was declared a presidential disaster area. A couple of severe thunderstorms also occurred in northwest New Jersey during the afternoon of the 23rd. While there was one report of a funnel cloud and a waterspout in Barnegat Bay, no confirmed tornadoes occurred.

The severe thunderstorm forced suspension of all PATCO commuter regional rail service in the Philadelphia suburbs as well as the New Jersey Transit Line between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. PATCO service was partially restored on the afternoon of the 24th with full service back on the 25th. Philadelphia to Atlantic City service was not restored until the 26th.

About 410,000 homes and businesses in southern New Jersey lost power. The 280,000 customers that lost service in the Atlantic City Electric's service area represented a greater number than what occurred during Superstorm Sandy (220,000) and the Derecho of 2012 (206,000). The utility reported that several high transmission lines, five substations, twenty other transmission lines, hundreds of poles as well as 372 incidents of wire damage occurred. The utility received assistance from repair crews as far away as Ohio and New England. About 210,000 of its customers were still without power on the morning of the 24th, 180,000 the afternoon of the 24th, 121,500 the afternoon of the 25th, 84,000 the morning of the 26th and 48,000 the evening of the 26th. Thunderstorms on the 27th slowed restoration efforts and full restoration did not occur until the 30th. Public Service Electric & Gas reported 130,000 of its customers lost power. Full restoration occurred on the 26th. The utility's substations in Collingswood, Maple Shade, Medford and Southampton were damaged. Because of the prolonged power outages, water and ice distribution centers were opened and the American Red Cross assisted with displaced families.

In Gloucester County, two comfort stations were opened by the Red Cross. The worst wind damage occurred from Greenwich Township east through Mantua Township. About 11,000 homes and businesses were still without power on the morning of the 28th. In Camden County, the county dispatch office fielded ten times the normal call volume for assistance. The County Public Safety Office fielded 3,522 calls vs 2,432 calls for the entire duration of Superstorm Sandy. Hardest hit was the central part of the county from Gloucester Township east through Cherry Hill and Voorhees Township. In Burlington County, Evesham and Medford Townships were hardest hit.

Crop damage impacted mainly Camden and Gloucester Counties. Most of the initial damage was physical in nature to buildings, facilities and ditches. The impact of the wind on the crops themselves will not be known for months. The lack of hail cut down on the overall crop damage. Verizon cell phone service was also lost in parts of southwest New Jersey on the 23rd and restored by the 24th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.8224, -75.2702)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 591432. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.