Tornado Touchdown Confirmed In NJ, National Weather Service Says

ESTELL MANOR, NJ — A "very brief" tornado touched down in Atlantic County during Thursday evening's strong thunderstorms, the National Weather Service's Mt. Holly office said.

The Aug. 20 tornado lasted about 30 seconds or less at 4:41 p.m., the National Weather Service said in a preliminary report.

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It touched down in an inaccessible wooded and/or marshy area across the Great Egg Harbor River, officials said.

"No reported damage has been definitively connected to this tornado. Therefore, there is no damage rating, and will be classified as EF Unknown (EF-U) unless any damage reports are received from this area," the National Weather Service said.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 depending on the speed of the tornado.

The Estell Manor Tornado is the fifth confirmed to have touched down in New Jersey this year. The other four occurred during severe storms on July 21. Read more: 4 Tornadoes In 4 Hours: Inside NJ's Turbulent Tuesday