Dozens displaced in NJ by rare February tornado

Gwynne Hogan

Published Feb 22, 2023

Modified Feb 22, 2023

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A tree ripped from its roots is toppled over and lying on the sidewalk.

New Jersey Red Cross

Gwynne Hogan

Published Feb 22, 2023

Modified Feb 22, 2023

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Dozens of New Jersey residents were displaced by a tornado that blew through Mercer County Tuesday afternoon.

Between 60 and 75 people had to evacuate their homes Tuesday afternoon, but no one was injured, according to Captain Joseph Lech, with the Lawrence Township Police Department.

Crews from the National Weather Service were on scene Wednesday and had determined by late morning that the high winds were in fact caused by a tornado.

Some of the most severe damage occurred at the Lawrence Square Village Condominiums in Lawrence Township, a housing development where 27 apartments are now deemed uninhabitable, according to Red Cross spokesperson Diane Concannon. She said her group was helping the victims procure hotel rooms.

A tree ripped from its roots is toppled over and lying on the sidewalk.

New Jersey Red Cross

While the Garden State experiences an average of about three tornadoes a year during the spring and summer months, a February tornado is extremely rare, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Sarah Johnson. The last time one hit was in 1999, she said.

New Jersey saw two tornadoes last year, though there were 19 tornadoes in 2019, and 13 in 2021.

The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning at around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon for Hamilton Square, Twin Rivers, and Hightstown in Mercer County, and the winds had blown through by 4:15 p.m.

This story has been updated with additional information from the Lawrence Township Police Department and to reflect that the National Weather Service classified the storm as a tornado.

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