Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Mt. Holly, NJ

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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