An unusually strong for August upper air disturbance helped trigger numerous strong to severe thunderstorms across New Jersey. Severe thunderstorms started developing along the warm front in the morning and continued through the afternoon and into the evening until a cold front moved through the state.
The large hail storms that occurred contributed to the United States Secretary of Agriculture Edward Schafer declaring ten central and southern New Jersey Counties a natural disaster on September 22nd. Mercer, Monmouth, Burlington, Ocean, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May Counties were included in the declaration.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:20:00 to 10-AUG-08 12:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: HARRISONVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Severe thunderstorms dropped marble to quarter size hail across central Gloucester County from South Harrison Township east through Harrison Township, Mantua Township, Pitman Borough and Washington Township.

Hail in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 11:35:00 to 10-AUG-08 11:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: DEEPWATER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Newspaper

Hail as large as golf balls caused vehicular and crop damage from Pennsville and Carney Townships eastward across mouch of the northern half of Salem County. Large amounts of hail damage occurred to farms in Mannington, Carney Point, Pilesgrove and Oldmans Township. A farm in Pedericktown (Oldman Township) saw its entire tomato, pepper, and string bean crop destroyed. Ninety percent of the crops on a 650 acre farm in Mannington Township was destroyed by hail. Many zucchini crops within the county were damaged. In addition to crop damage, vehicles were damaged by large hail. Over 100 vehicles were damaged at dealerships in Penns Grove and Carneys Point. It was estimated that it would take until mid September for auto body shops to repair all the vehicles damaged by the large hail in the county.

Hail in CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:03:00 to 10-AUG-08 12:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: ERMA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail as large as golf balls fell across sections of Lower and Middle Townships in Cape May County. Large hail was reported in Erma (Lower Township), Rio Grande (Middle Township) and Green Creek (Middle Township). The largest hail was reported in Erma.

Lightning in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 14:05:00 to 10-AUG-08 14:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILFORD
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A two-and-a-half story barn burned to the ground after being struck by lightning on Pond Lane in Milford.

Hail in CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:30:00 to 10-AUG-08 12:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: WOODBINE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nickel size hail fell in Woodbine.

Hail in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:30:00 to 10-AUG-08 12:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELMER
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Half dollar size hail fell near Elmer.

Hail in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 09:20:00 to 10-AUG-08 09:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: PENNSVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny size hail fell in Pennsville Township. This was the first of several severe thunderstorms with large hail to effect Salem County on the 10th.

Hail in CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 18:35:00 to 10-AUG-08 18:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: MARMORA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Penny size hail fell in the Mamora section of Upper Township.

Hail in ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 11:20:00 to 10-AUG-08 11:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROSEDALE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter to walnut size hail fell in Hammonton Township at around 1220 p.m. EDT and again around 1230 p.m. EDT.

Funnel Cloud in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 11:35:00 to 10-AUG-08 11:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: PENNS GROVE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A funnel cloud was sighted over Penns Grove Borough. While the funnel cloud did not touch down, the parent severe thunderstorm left a swath of hail damage.

Hail in OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 13:15:00 to 10-AUG-08 13:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: MANAHAWKIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail fell in Manahawkin.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:15:00 to 10-AUG-08 12:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: SWEDESBORO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Newspaper

A severe thunderstorm dropped large hail across Woolwich Township. Eight large farms in the township suffered hail damage. Nearly one hundred percent of the eggplants were damaged. There was also considerable damage done to tomato plants and cubanelle pepper plants.

Thunderstorm Wind in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:20:00 to 10-AUG-08 12:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: HARRISONVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

In addition to the damaging hail, severe thunderstorms produced wind gusts estimated to reach about 70 mph in sections of Harrison and South Harrison Townships. Storm chasers noted that corn fields were totally flattened.

Hail in ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 20:00:00 to 10-AUG-08 20:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOMERS PT
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm dropped penny size from Somers Point northeast through Linwood. The same thunderstorm dropped smaller, marble size hail in Estell Manor and Atlantic City.

Hail in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 18:50:00 to 10-AUG-08 19:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: CARLIS CORNER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Penny to nickel size hail fell from Upper Deerfield Township east through Deerfield Township and Millville. In Millville, the large hail damaged about 75 vehicles at the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep Dealership on North 2nd Street.

Lightning in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 13:12:00 to 10-AUG-08 13:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: AUBURN
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A lightning strike struck and damaged an outbuilding on Quilleytown Road in Carneys Point Township.

Hail in CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 17:50:00 to 10-AUG-08 17:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELDORA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail fell in the Eldora section of Dennis Township. Pea size hail also fell in Woodbine.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:52:00 to 10-AUG-08 13:19:00 (EST-5)
Location: JANVIER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A series of severe thunderstorms dropped penny to quarter size hail across Franklin Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 18:50:00 to 10-AUG-08 18:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: CARLIS CORNER
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A severe thunderstorm downed several trees along the 200 block of Rosenhayn Avenue in Upper Deerfield Township. The downed trees damaged four homes on the block. The left side of one home was destroyed. Another home was impaled twice by a downed tree. Another home had its awning torn away from its porch, outdoor furniture damaged and a tree on its pool. Elsewhere in Upper Deerfield Township, downed trees blocked Park Avenue. Several pine and oak trees were split and twisted. About 5,200 homes and businesses lost power in the county. Outages lasted into the 12th.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 14:10:00 to 10-AUG-08 14:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: JENKINS
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site at Oswego Lake recorded a wind gust of 65 mph during a severe thunderstorm in Woodland Township.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 18:30:00 to 10-AUG-08 18:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: MULLICA HILL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 4.00M
Reported by: State Official

The last severe thunderstorm of the day proved to be the most damaging  as large hail fell for the longest period of time. Areas of large hail occurred from Harrison Township southeast through Monroe Township. Ten peach orchards in Gloucester County were damaged by the large hail. About 40 percent of the peach crop was already harvested prior to the severe thunderstorms. The fourteen peach orchards affected by repeated  severe thunderstorms with large hail in Gloucester, Camden and Atlantic Counties normally harvest about 30 million pounds of peaches.

Hail in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 19:01:00 to 10-AUG-08 19:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: FLORENCE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.50M
Reported by: State Official

The last thunderstorm of the day was the most damaging as large hail fell for the longest period of time. Areas of large hail occurred across Winslow and Waterford Townships. About three peach orchards in Camden County were damaged by the large hail. About 40 percent of the peach crop was already harvested prior to the severe thunderstorms. The fourteen peach orchards affected by repeated severe thunderstorms with large hail in Gloucester, Camden and Atlantic Counties normally harvest about 30 million pounds of peaches.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 14:50:00 to 10-AUG-08 14:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILLIAMSTOWN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball size hail was reported in Williamstown (Monroe Township).

Hail in ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 12:25:00 to 10-AUG-08 12:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAMMONTON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: State Official

For the third time in the same day, a severe thunderstorm dropped large hail in Hammonton Township. Hail reached the size of ping pong balls during this severe thunderstorm. The combination of the three severe hail thunderstorms caused severe damage to crops on a few hundred acres within the township. Damage occurred on a couple mile wide corridor on either side of U.S. Route 206. Squash, pumpkin, corn, Asian greens, cucurbits and sweet potatoes were damaged. The sweet potato crop partially recovered. Also damaged were late blueberries, a few peaches and several plantings of wine grapes. Hail damage in neighboring Mullica Township was limited to some late season blueberries.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 10:10:00 to 10-AUG-08 10:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLAYTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nickel size hail fell in Clayton. Marble size hail also fell in Glassboro.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 10:22:00 to 10-AUG-08 10:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: PITMAN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail fell in Pitman Borough and adjacent portions of Washington Township.

Hail in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 10:48:00 to 10-AUG-08 10:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: BERLIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail fell in Winslow Township.

Hail in CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 10-AUG-08 08:58:00 to 10-AUG-08 08:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: WHITESBORO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Penny size hail fell in Rio Grande in Middle Township.