An approaching cold front that ended a week long heat wave also triggered severe thunderstorms across New Jersey during the afternoon and early evening on the 23rd. A power outage caused significant delays and over a one hour shut down (from 430 p.m. EDT until 545 p.m. EDT) of Amtrak train service between Philadelphia and Boston. These outages extended to New Jersey Transit Trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Shore Line and Midtown Direct Line.

Funnel Cloud in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 18:17:00 to 23-JUL-08 18:17:00 (EST-5)
Location: WHIG LANE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A funnel cloud was spotted along the intersection of U.S. Route 40 and Commissioner Pike Road looking toward Alloway Township. The funnel cloud did not touch down.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 14:10:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: TRENTON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A severe thunderstorm tore down large tree limbs and wires in Trenton. One fallen wire was smoking in a tree top, but the fire did not spread from the tree.

Lightning in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 15:15:00 to 23-JUL-08 15:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: MIDDLESEX
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

For the second time in one month, the Middlesex Borough Hall was struck by lightning. The first lightning strike on July 11th knocked out communications with other townships for less than an hour. The lightning strike on the 23rd caused phone and internet service to be not available through the afternoon of the 24th.

Lightning in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 16:33:00 to 23-JUL-08 16:33:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAMILTON SQUARE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A person was injured by a lightning strike in Hamilton Township. The person apparently suffered a hand injury based on a proximity strike to the individual.

Thunderstorm Wind in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 14:28:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:28:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALLOWAY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm tore down large tree limbs and wires in Alloway Township. About 300 homes and businesses lost power.

Lightning in BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 19:30:00 to 23-JUL-08 19:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILLINGBORO
Property damage: 600.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Lightning strikes resulted in house fires in Maple Shade and Medford  Townships. No serious injuries were reported. In Maple Shade, lightning struck a home on Stiles Avenue. The ensuing fire damaged two rooms before it was extinguished. In Medford Township, the ensuing fire after the lightning struck burned a Highwood Court home to the ground. A firefighter hurt his hand battling the blaze. No one was home at the time.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 19:15:00 to 23-JUL-08 19:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: HARDINGVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down several trees, tree limbs and power lines in the northwest half of Gloucester County in Elk, southern Harrison, Pitman, Glassboro, southern Deptford and Washington Townships. About 1,250 homes and businesses lost power.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 19:13:00 to 23-JUL-08 19:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: EDGEWATER PARK
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm tore down large tree limbs in Willingboro and Edgewater Park. Marble (half inch) size hail was also reported in Edgewater Park.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 18:45:00 to 23-JUL-08 18:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: WESTVILLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm tore down large tree limbs and wires in Westville Borough. A series of severe thunderstorms in the northwest part of Gloucester County caused about 1,250 homes and businesses to lose power.

Hail in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 14:32:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: PENNINGTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Golf ball size hail fell in Pennington.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 16:28:00 to 23-JUL-08 16:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: WHITE HORSE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The second severe thunderstorm of the day, tore down several more trees, tree limbs and power lines across the southeast part of Mercer County.

Lightning in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 14:40:00 to 23-JUL-08 14:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: MIDDLE BUSH
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A lightning strike caused damage to the police, radio and telephone centers in Franklin Township. Lightning struck the 180 foot antenna and traveled down it to the ground. Smoke filled the dispatch center at the police headquarters. Equipment was damaged, but no other injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 19:00:00 to 23-JUL-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PALMYRA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm tore down large tree limbs and wires in Palmyra Borough.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 14:20:00 to 23-JUL-08 15:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: TITUSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

In addition to the large hail, the same severe thunderstorm tore down several trees and wires across the northern tier of Mercer County from Hopewell Township east through Princeton Township. One street was closed in Princeton because of a downed tree.

Thunderstorm Wind in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 18:17:00 to 23-JUL-08 18:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: PENNSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm tore down several trees and power lines in Pennsville and Carneys Point Townships.

Thunderstorm Wind in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 16:46:00 to 23-JUL-08 16:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: MONTGOMERY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm tore down several trees in Somerset County. In Somerville, two very large trees were knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 23-JUL-08 19:17:00 to 23-JUL-08 19:17:00 (EST-5)
Location: POLE TAVERN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A severe thunderstorm tore down a few trees in Upper Pittsgrove Township. A greater than 200-year-old tree was knocked down into a home at the intersection of New Jersey State Route 77 and Glassboro Road. The tree fell through the roof, damaged the gutters and broke two windows. The evening thunderstorms caused about 4,000 homes and businesses in Salem County to lose power.