A wet week of weather in New Jersey is expected to conclude Friday with a tornado watch for much of the area as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby travel through the Northeast.
Where is the tornado watch in NJ
The National Weather Service issued the watch through 2 p.m. Friday for 17 New Jersey counties. North Jersey areas under the advisory include Sussex, Morris, Passaic and Warren counties.
Much of the region is also under a flood watch, which will produce 1 to 2 inches of rain throughout the day, the NWS alert said. Amounts of 3 inches or more are possible in some local areas.
What is a tornado watch vs. warning
The NWS defines a tornado as “a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground.” The phenomenon is most common in the central and southeastern United States but has been reported in all 50 states.
A tornado watch means conditions for a tornado are possible, and people in the area should be prepared to act in case one is detected. A warning is more severe and indicates “imminent danger to life and property,” according to the NWS.
What to do in a tornado
In the event of a tornado in the area, residents should go to the basement or another interior room away from windows. Smaller structures such as sheds, storage facilities and mobile homes are not considered safe buildings.
It is also not safe to be outside or in a car when a tornado is approaching. Motorists who are unable to get to a safe building should either get down in their car and cover their head or seek shelter in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine, the NWS said.
NJ tornado history
Tornadoes are relatively infrequent in New Jersey, with the state averaging about two per year. Most are not considered especially dangerous, usually traveling short distances of a few hundred yards to several miles.
The state has seen increased activity in recent years. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows 18 were recorded in 2023, two in 2022, 14 in 2021, four in 2020 and 10 in 2019.
In total, there have been 203 tornadoes in New Jersey since 1950. Only one resulted in a death, in 2003.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Tornado watch in NJ: Which counties it affects and more info
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Publish date : 2024-08-09 03:23:00
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