Thunderstorm Wind — Cape May, New Jersey

2020-04-21 · near Cape May, Cape May, New Jersey

Event narrative

Several reports of downed power lines in the area. Time estimated from radar.

Wider weather episode

Strong low pressure tracked through southern Canada on April 21. A warm front associated with the low moved through the mid-Atlantic during the morning hours, with a strong and fast moving cold front following closely behind for the afternoon. This was an unseasonably strong cold front which marked the leading edge of a much colder than average air mass moving into the region behind it. A strongly forced and highly sheared environment existed ahead of the front. Widespread morning cloudiness and rain showers limited instability, but a brief window of clearing allowed for heating and destabilization to occur. A severe squall line developed, producing considerable wind damage over eastern portions of the mid-Atlantic. A weak tornado also occurred along the New Jersey coast.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.9400, -74.9200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 881521. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.