Two tornadoes touch down in northern New Jersey, prompting alerts and travel disruptions

Two tornadoes touched down on Tuesday in northern New Jersey, one in Stanhope, Sussex County, and another in Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County. The National Weather Service will send survey crews on Wednesday to assess the storms' intensity.

Stanhope police reported that most damage was limited to major roadways, with downed trees on Route 206 and a tree that ignited after falling on a power line. No injuries were reported. Local resident Julie Fischer described the event, noting sudden changes in the sky and trees being ripped from the roadside.

Governor Mikie Sherrill urged residents to heed tornado warnings, emphasizing that such alerts are issued when the threat is imminent. She said the state Department of Transportation activated its operations center to keep roads safe during the evening commute and reminded drivers to avoid flooded areas.

A tornado watch covered much of the Tri-State Area for most of the day. Severe weather forced a flight bound for Newark Liberty International Airport to divert to Philadelphia after the Newark control tower was evacuated due to potential tornado risk. The storm system also caused ground stops, hundreds of delays and cancellations at Newark Airport, and prompted travelers to check flight status before departing.