Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Mt. Holly, NJ
Issued by NWS Mt. Holly, NJ
849 NOUS41 KPHI 191945 PNSPHI DEZ001>004-MDZ012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>024-026-027- PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-200745- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 345 PM EDT Mon May 19 2025 ...NWS Damage Survey for 05/16/25 Tornado Event Update #3... Update...Updated track and increased intensity of Collings Lakes Tornado and added survey information from a gustnado in Franklinville, NJ. Overview...Multiple rounds of storms produced damage across the region including a tornado in southern New Jersey and another that began in eastern Maryland before crossing into southern Delaware. .Williamstown-Collings Lakes Tornado... Rating: EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90-95 mph Path Length /statute/: 8.6 miles Path Width /maximum/: 300 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: May 16, 2025 Start Time: 12:42 PM EDT Start Location: Williamstown / Gloucester County / NJ Start Lat/Lon: 39.649 / -75.014 End Date: May 16, 2025 End Time: 12:53 PM EDT End Location: Collings Lakes / Atlantic County / NJ End Lat/Lon: 39.594 / -74.877 Survey Summary: After analyzing additional storm damage, it was determined the tornado in Collings Lakes originated in Williamstown near the intersection of Janvier Rd and Tuckahoe Rd where a large hardwood tree fell across Janvier Rd and some siding from the corner of a house peeled off. The tornado then moved SSE crossing Birch Ave where several hardwood trees were snapped at the trunks. This is where the tornado reached its greatest width of 300 yards. Traveling SE from there, where it likely lifted at times, the tornado crossed W Malaga Rd near the Victory Lakes community, damaging a wood fence and several small tree branches. Continuing its discontinuous path SE, a telephone pole was snapped near the intersection of E Piney Hollow Rd and US 322 before moving SSE again towards the Collings Lakes neighborhood. Previous survey information in Collings Lakes: The first damage was noted along Malaga Road where large branches were downed and some metal roof sheeting was peeled off an out building. Continued damage, mostly large branches downed continued near the intersection of Cains Mill Road and Colton Lane. The last observed damage in this path was near the intersection of Cloverdale Lane and Wiltshire Drive. More sporadic tree damage was noted along Cains Mill Road further south, but was determined to be due to straight line winds. The National Weather Service would like to thank the Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management and the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management for their assistance with this survey. .Franklinville Gustnado... Estimated Peak Wind: 100-105 mph Path Length /statute/: 100 yards Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: May 16, 2025 Start Time: 12:50 PM EDT Start Location: Franklinville / Gloucester County / NJ Start Lat/Lon: 39.62 / -74.98 End Date: May 16, 2025 End Time: 12:50 PM EDT End Location: Franklinville / Gloucester County / NJ End Lat/Lon: 39.62 / -74.98 Survey Summary: A damage survey was conducted at a home on N Blue Bell Rd near the intersecting street of Coles Mill Rd where a concentrated amount of damage occurred. It was determined that a brief gustnado formed at this location, snapping the trunk of several hardwood trees and taking down several large softwood branches. Video received from the homeowner showed the trees and branches falling after a rapid wind shift. Analysis of radar data showed a strong signature of a rear-flank downdraft in the vicinity, which likely spun up this brief gustnado. The National Weather Service would like to thank the residents of the Franklinville home for their assistance in completing this survey. .Rhodesdale-Bethel Tornado... Rating: EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100-110 mph Path Length /statute/: 11.4 miles Path Width /maximum/: 600 yards (discontinuous circulations) Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: May 16, 2025 Start Time: 6:52 PM EDT Start Location: 2 SSE Rhodesdale / Dorchester County / MD Start Lat/Lon: 38.5538 / -75.8291 End Date: May 16, 2025 End Time: 7:06 PM EDT End Location: 1 S Bethel / Sussex County / DE End Lat/Lon: 38.5625 / -75.6209 On Friday May 16th, an EF-1 tornado occurred beginning in Dorchester County, Maryland before crossing into Sussex County, Delaware. The tornado began south-southeast of Rhodesdale, along Rhodesdale-Vienna Road. Significant tree damage occurred to a line of trees to the east of the road, with many trees snapped along their trunks and several more uprooted. The tree damage appeared to be convergent with trees bent towards the center of the damaged area. The tornado may have lifted briefly as it continued to the east-northeast as little damage was noted along Indiantown Road. By the time the tornado reached Eldorado-Sharptown Road, damage to trees resumed with several more snapped and uprooted. As the tornado approached Galestown, damage occurred to an elongated farm building, with the entire structure lifted off its foundation and pushed several yards to the east-northeast. The most concentrated damage was found in Galestown, near where the tornado reached its peak width. Radar observations indicate that multiple circulations may have been present at this time, resulting in the increased width. Many more trees were twisted, snapped, and/or uprooted with some causing damage to homes as a result. The tornado then moved into Sussex County, Delaware and crossed the Nanticoke River. More tree damage was observed in Phillips Landing Park where a tree was snapped and twisted near the base of its trunk with additional tree damage in the Cherry Walk Woods neighborhood and along Phillips Landing Road. Additional trees were damaged along Shell Bridge Road with a tree snapped near the intersection with Phillips Landing Road. Several large limbs were also downed near Broad Creek, south-southwest of Bethel. The tornado dissipated in this area though additional damage was noted continuing eastward towards Laurel. This was the result of straight-line winds associated with the rear-flank downdraft which also caused the loss of part and all of the roofs to two commercial structures in Laurel as well as additional tree damage south of Chipman Pond. The National Weather Service would like to thank the Eldorado- Brookview Volunteer Fire Company, Laurel Fire Department, and Sussex County Emergency Management and Communications for their valuable assistance with this survey. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ AKL/Johnson/Guzzo/RCM/MJL/Cooper