Tornado In NJ As More Than 19K Lost Power (VIDEO)

A tornado touched down in New Jersey as bad weather continued to hit parts of the state. More than 19,000 were without power during the afternoon and early evening (see list of towns below).

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 the twister and the damage it left:

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 severe thunderstorm was located over several counties throughout the afternoon. Lightning, 60-mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail were being reported (see map below).

Minor damage to vehicles was possible. Wind damage to roofs, siding, trees and power lines was possible.

Here were the alerted areas as of 6:30 p.m.:

Here were the alerted areas as of 4:30 p.m.:

After storms hit Wednesday, more than 19,000 lost power in these New Jersey towns:

1. KEARNY TOWN 2,707
2. TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP 1,892
3. WEST ORANGE TWP 1,157
4. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1,026
5. NORTH ARLINGTON BORO 1,003
6. LIVINGSTON TWP 934
7. EAST HANOVER TOWNSHIP 911
8. JACKSON TOWNSHIP 815
9. MEDFORD TWP 625
10. MANSFIELD TWP 564
11. NEW PROVIDENCE BOROUGH 552
12. MARLBORO TOWNSHIP 548
13. MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP 521
14. Tabernacle Twp 461
15. LITTLE FERRY BORO 424
16. KEANSBURG BOROUGH 391
17. BLOOMFIELD TWP 345
18. FLORENCE TWP 278
19. NORTH CALDWELL BORO 241
20. DENVILLE TOWNSHIP 222
21. TEWKSBURY TOWNSHIP 215
22. NEWARK CITY 213
23. ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP 193
24. HANOVER TOWNSHIP 181
25. Southampton Twp 167
26. SOUTH ORANGE VILLAGE TWP 156
27. PRINCETON 152
28. LEONIA BORO 143
29. FRANKLIN TWP 140
30. BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP 136
31. FAIRFIELD TWP 128
32. MOUNT LAUREL TWP 127
33. Hopewell Twp 113
34. PARSIPPANY TROY HILLS TOWNSHIP 106
35. UNION TOWNSHIP 102
36. LINCOLN PARK BOROUGH 98
37. MOUNTAINSIDE BOROUGH 85
38. PHILLIPSBURG TOWN 77
39. EAST ORANGE CITY 68
40. CLINTON TOWNSHIP 67
41. COLTS NECK TOWNSHIP 66
42. PEAPACK AND GLADSTONE BOROUGH 61
43. FREDON TOWNSHIP 58
44. WOODBRIDGE TWP 55
45. HOWELL TOWNSHIP 46
46. HARDING TOWNSHIP 46
47. HOLLAND TOWNSHIP 44
48. FRELINGHUYSEN TOWNSHIP 43
49. EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP 41
50. Woodland Twp 41
51. UNION BEACH BOROUGH 38
52. EDISON TWP 37
53. ELIZABETH CITY 36
54. BERNARDSVILLE BOROUGH 34
55. CEDAR GROVE TWP 33
56. BERKELEY TOWNSHIP 21
57. STILLWATER TOWNSHIP 21
58. MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP 20
59. MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP 19
60. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP 16
61. HAZLET TOWNSHIP 15
62. HADDONFIELD BORO 14
63. WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP 13
64. BERNARDS TOWNSHIP 13
65. Monroe Twp 11
66. LEBANON TOWNSHIP 10
67. MAPLEWOOD TWP 10
68. LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP 9
69. GLEN RIDGE BORO 8
70. VERONA TWP 7
71. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP 6
72. BORDENTOWN TWP 6
73. CRANFORD TWP 6
74. LONG HILL TOWNSHIP 5
75. BELLEVILLE TWP 5
76. UNION TWP 5

A flash flood watch was issued for several counties in North, Central and South Jersey. Showers and thunderstorms were expected to develop early Wednesday afternoon and continue at times through the afternoon and early evening.

Periods of heavy rain were expected with areas of 1 to 2 inches, with local amounts of 3 to 4 inches possible. Heavy rainfall falling in a short amount of time could lead to flash flooding.

The National Weather Service initially issued a hazardous weather outlook, saying widespread showers and thunderstorms were expected to develop Wednesday afternoon and evening. Some storms were expected to produce damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding, the NWS says.

Here is what to expect:

Here is when you should expect the worst:

• The heavy and thunder and lightning was expected to be at their worst after 3 p.m.
• The winds could be powerful enough to knock down power lines and flood roads.

The weather already had an impact since some storms hit New Jersey on Tuesday and early Wednesday. A water spout was spotted off the coast.

Nearly 2,000 Atlantic City Electric customers were without power Tuesday afternoon after lightning struck a utility pole and energy infrastructure in Mays Landing, according to The Press of Atlantic City.

On Wednesday, heavy, gusty and locally severe storms will precede a push of cooler and less humid air across the Northeast this week, according AccuWeather.

Motorists and airline passengers should anticipate substantial delays for the afternoon and evening commute this day along the Interstate 95 corridor.

For those spending time at the beach this week, storms related to the cool front are most likely from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and the Virginia capes from late Wednesday to Thursday, according to AccuWeather.

Here is the forecast:

• Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 86. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Wednesday night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 67. Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. West wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.