An unseasonably warm and humid air mass combined with an approaching surface trof to produce strong to severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening across New Jersey. The combination of lightning and damaging winds caused about 20,000 homes and businesses to lose power in Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth and Union Counties.

Funnel Cloud in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 15:45:00 to 26-JUL-09 15:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: FRENCHTOWN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm produced a rotating wall cloud and funnel cloud over Frenchtown Borough. While the funnel cloud did not touch down, the severe thunderstorm went on to produce wind and hail damage in Hunterdon County.

Thunderstorm Wind in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 16:18:00 to 26-JUL-09 16:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEDMINSTER
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm left a swath of wind damage across the northern third of Somerset County. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. In Bedminster Township, the shingles and half the roof of a supermarket were torn away on Hills Drive. Trees were knocked down on both County Routes 313 and 113. A tree was also knocked down onto Interstate 287. Thirteen vehicles and four condominiums were damaged by downed trees in the township.  In Bridgewater Township, U.S. Route 202/206 was closed after a downed tree pulled down wires onto the roadway.  In Bernards Township, on Mountain Road, a downed tree tore a hole in the roof of one home and also damaged its deck. In Warren Township, downed trees damaged homes on Sage Drive and Church Road. A vehicle was also damaged.  A wind gust of 55 mph was recorded at the Somerville Somerset Airport. Some small hail also fell from the severe thunderstorm.

Thunderstorm Wind in MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 18:10:00 to 26-JUL-09 18:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: FREEHOLD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm caused wind damage (downed trees and wires) from Freehold Township and Borough northeast into Middletown Township. Wind damage also occurred in Marlboro and Manalapan Townships. A downed tree pierced a roof in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown Township. Three vehicles were damaged by fallen trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 19:25:00 to 26-JUL-09 19:26:00 (EST-5)
Location: TRENTON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm tore down a few trees across southwestern Mercer County in Trenton and Hamilton Township. Two fifty foot trees were completely uprooted in Hamilton.

Lightning in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 19:20:00 to 26-JUL-09 19:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: PROSPECT PLAINS
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A home in Monroe township caught on fire after being struck by lightning. No injuries were reported.

Lightning in MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 14:55:00 to 26-JUL-09 14:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: WEST END
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A man was hospitalized after being struck by lightning on Woodgate Avenue in Long Branch.

Hail in MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 18:10:00 to 26-JUL-09 18:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOLMDEL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A severe thunderstorm dropped penny size hail in Holmdel.

Lightning in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 21:10:00 to 26-JUL-09 21:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: FRANKLIN PARK
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A lightning strike and ensuing fire damaged twelve units of a condominium on Fisher Drive in Franklin Township. Six of the units were deemed uninhabitable due to fire, smoke and water damage. One resident was hospitalized after she became light-headed. It took about 60 firefighters two hours to get the fire under control. Damages were estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 18:45:00 to 26-JUL-09 19:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: JOBSTOWN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm tore down numerous trees in northwestern Burlington County. Downed trees were reported in both Bordentowns, Chesterfield, Fieldsboro, Mansfield and Springfield. Seven roadways were blocked by downed trees and limbs fell on and damaged several homes and porches as well as at least one vehicle. About 2,000 homes and businesses lost power. Power was fully restored by 4 p.m. EDT on the 27th.

Hail in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 19:25:00 to 26-JUL-09 19:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAMILTON SQUARE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A severe thunderstorm dropped penny size hail in Hamilton Township and shredded leaves on trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 19:25:00 to 26-JUL-09 19:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILLTOWN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm knocked down trees in east central Middlesex County in East Brunswick, Sayreville and Old Bridge.

Funnel Cloud in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 15:50:00 to 26-JUL-09 15:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: PITTSTOWN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A severe thunderstorm produced a funnel cloud over Pittstown in Franklin Township. While the funnel cloud did not touch down, the severe thunderstorm went on to produce wind and hail damage across Hunterdon County and this included the Pittstown area.

Hail in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 15:50:00 to 26-JUL-09 15:57:00 (EST-5)
Location: PITTSTOWN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm dropped quarter size hail in both Pittstown (Franklin Township) and Clinton Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 26-JUL-09 15:48:00 to 26-JUL-09 16:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: EVERITTSTOWN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A severe thunderstorm caused wind damage across Hunterdon County, hitting the central part of the county the hardest in Alexandria, Franklin and Clinton Townships. Ten people suffered minor injuries at the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Readington Township when tents were toppled and debris struck them. In Alexandria Township, the roof of a barn was torn away and a shed was totally damaged. Tree damage occurred in Clinton along New Jersey State Route 31 and County Route 929. About 5,000 homes and businesses lost power.