Tornado Touches Down In Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — A tornado has touched down in Springfield Township as a volatile storm is sweeping over the area on Thursday night.

The National Weather Service confirmed with Union County Emergency Management that a brief tornado touched down near Springfield Avenue and Route 22 in Springfield. Radar estimated winds were 70 mph.

Here are videos of it:

A Springfield local Paul Altemus also captured downed trees and power lines on Evergreen Avenue where power is out as of 5:45 p.m.

Mohawk Drive resident Herbert Olarsch shared a photo of a 100-year-old Maple tree that was uprooted by the tornado as well.

In neighboring Mountainside the high winds of the storm even blew an air conditioning unit off the roof of the Mountainside AMC Movie Theater on Route 22 and caused parked trailer to collapse, Mountainside Police Department reported.

As a result of the high winds, more than 19,000 were without power during the afternoon and early evening in New Jersey including more than 1,000 Union County residents.

As of 8:15 p.m. JCP&L is reporting 407 are without power in Springfield and 278 in Berkeley Heights. Other outages are reported in New Providence.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued statewide until 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when the storm threat is more imminent.

A flood advisory in Union County had also been issued through 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

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