National Weather Service Confirms EF2 Tornado In Mercer With 115 MPH Winds And Path Almost 6 Miles Long

February 22, 2023

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The National Weather Service has confirm that a tornado was in Mercer County, NJ yesterday. The tornado was an EF-2 with 110-115 mph winds, with a path 200 yards wide and just short of 6 miles in length.

Update;

353 PM EST Wed Feb 22 2023

...NWS Damage Survey for 02/21/23 Tornado Event ...

Thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front developed rotation
over Mercer County. In addition to wind damage and hail reports,
a tornado occurred in Mercer County.

.Lawrence Township and West Windsor Township Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-2
Estimated Peak Wind:    110-115 mph
Path Length /statute/:  5.8 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   200 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             February 21, 2023
Start Time:             3:35 PM EST
Start Location:         Lawrence Township, Mercer County, NJ
Start Lat/Lon:          40.2785/-74.7028

End Date:               February 21, 2023
End Time:               3:41 PM EST
End Location:           West Windsor Township, Mercer County, NJ
End Lat/Lon:            40.2701/-74.5931

Sporadic minor tree damage was observed west of Interstate 295. A
continuous path of tree damage was observed near Lawrence Station
Road, particularly in a housing development along Fountayne Lane.
Additional tree damage and damage to roofing occurred in a housing
development at Lawrence Square. Estimated maximum wind speeds in
this area were 105 to 115 mph. In a straight line from this
damage, there was roofing damage at a residence and a commercial
building as well as additional tree damage along Quaker Bridge
Road. Tree damage continued at a park across the street and
through the 2nd and 11th holes at the adjacent golf course.
Additional sporadic tree damage occurred in residential areas east
of the golf course in West Windsor Township. The last tree damage
was observed near the intersection of Old Trenton Road and Village
Road.

The National Weather Service would like to extent our
appreciation to New Jersey State Police, Mercer County Office of
Emergency Management, and Lawrence Township Police Department for
their help with the survey.


&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

See yesterday’s MidJersey.news story here:

NWS Investigates Possible Tornado That Leaves 60 People Homeless And Over 100 Properties Affected

Tornado Update from County Executive Brian M. Hughes: I met today with officials from the National Weather Service who confirmed that a tornado swept through portions of Mercer County Feb. 21 at about 4 p.m. Fortunately no injuries were reported despite the serious damage to homes, buildings, cars and landscape, including at our Mercer Oaks golf course. In Lawrence, the Lawrence Square Village neighborhood has been particularly hard hit. I’d like to thank Lawrence Police Chief Chris Longo, Mercer OEM Coordinator Bob Hartman, Lawrence OEM Coordinator Jack Oakley, the New Jersey State Police liaisons to Mercer County Emergency Management and the Red Cross for their partnership. Please keep the families who have been displaced in your thoughts, and on behalf of the entire county, thank you to all the responders who are still on the scenes at various locations.

Mercer County Photos

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
1016 AM EST Wed Feb 22 2023

…Tornado Confirmed in Mercer County, New Jersey…

The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, NJ has
confirmed that a tornado occurred yesterday, February 21, 2023,
in the Quaker Bridge area of Mercer County, New Jersey.

More details, including the path length and path width, will be
available later this afternoon or early this evening via an
updated Public Information Statement.

The storm survey information will also be available on our website
at http://www.weather.gov/phi.