Waterspout — Manasquan Inlet To Little Egg Inlet Nj Out 20nm, Atlantic North

2021-05-08 · near Seaside Park, Manasquan Inlet To Little Egg Inlet Nj Out 20nm, Atlantic North

Event narrative

Numerous pictures and videos were received of a large, slow moving waterspout in Barnegat Bay. The waterspout was partially wrapped in rain and hail at times. No damage was reported, and there were no indications that the waterspout moved over land as a tornado. Start time based on radar and public reports, end time estimated.

Wider weather episode

A pocket of cold air aloft associated with upper level low pressure was overhead of the mid-Atlantic United States on May 8. This led to very steep lapse rates in the region, which combined with some modest diurnal heating to cause scattered to widespread convection to develop. Convection mainly took the form of weak showers with isolated rumbles of thunder. Several showers produced small hail thanks to the cold air aloft. The environment was also favorable for the development of cold air funnels and waterspouts. A particularly strong convective cell developed in eastern New Jersey during the mid-afternoon hours. The cell exhibited some rotation on radar, and was observed to produce a waterspout as it moved offshore.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.9589, -74.1079)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 947892. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.