A line of powerful thunderstorms triggered a tornado warning for parts of New Jersey Tuesday afternoon, as the storms and mild temperatures left many wondering: Are we still in winter, or summer?
The gusty winds and thunderstorms moved into western New Jersey by around 3:30 p.m., with a tornado warning issued for Mercer and Middlesex counties until after 4 p.m.
While it was not yet confirmed that a tornado had made landfall, video from the scene showed siding and roofs peeled off buildings like sardine cans, along with scores of trees downed across roads and in yards. A learning center in Lawrence Township saw its ceiling cave in with water pouring down in a room where students would have gathered an hour later.
The National Weather Service is investigating whether a tornado did in fact touch down in the area. Fortunately there were no reports of serious injuries, despite the large swath of destruction across Mercer and Middlesex counties.
A series of severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect from Ocean County up to Sullivan County in New York during the late afternoon and early evening. Those storms included downpours, hail and icy precipitation during the evening rush, but the severe weather was done before 7 p.m.
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The tornado warnings and thunderstorms were all part of the weather potpourri that Mother Nature will be serving up over the next few days, which will feature a mix of chilly rain, sleet and snow. Check the latest severe weather alerts for your neighborhood here.
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The system will fully clear out later Tuesday night, paving the way for dry, clear and cold weather through Wednesday morning. The next storm moves in Wednesday afternoon.
That late-afternoon system could bring a brief period of snow, with discernible flakes possibly even in snow-deprived New York City, by the late afternoon and early evening commute Wednesday (though mostly rain can be expected for the five boroughs). Then we get a lull, followed by a cold rain for most. Those mainly north of the New Jersey-New York-Connecticut border should see prolonged freezing rain and sleet, along with some snow.
Driving conditions in those zones -- which cover spots like Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan and Pike counties -- will be less than ideal through Thursday's early morning commute. Temperatures rise above freezing from late morning on, which will help melt any lingering ice.
We're looking at cooling temps Friday -- down to about 48 from above 50 on Thursday -- and more cooling Saturday, when highs will barely reach above freezing. Wind chills could be in the teens to start the weekend once again, and it'll stay breezy and chilly through the day.
By Sunday, we're back to above-average temperatures. We're tracking yet another storm system that could hit in a week, but at this point, it's too hard to predict how it could impact the tri-state area. For now, expect rain and stay with Storm Team 4 for all the latest weather developments.
The latest weather expectations come after some local spots shattered record highs Thursday. Islip reached 71 (!!) degrees in the afternoon, which is far above the previous high of 59 degrees, set back in 2018. Both NYC airports and Bridgeport, Connecticut, set or tied record highs as well.
Track any approaching precipitation using our interactive radar below.
