New Jersey, 1997

Hail and Damaging Wind in New Jersey, August 16, 1997

August 16, 1997 · NWS PHI · 2 events in 1 county or zone

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down trees and power lines throughout the county. But the majority of the wind damage occurred near and along the Delaware River, especially within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down trees and power lines throughout the county. But the majority of the wind damage occurred near and along the Delaware River, especially within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area. A measured wind gust of 60 mph along with dime size hail was reported from Washington Borough. Marble size hail was reported in Blairstown and downed wires closed sections of New Jersey State Route 94 within the township. This squall line caused numerous power outages throughout the northern half of New Jersey as falling trees took down electrical wires. About 97,000 GPU customers lost power that day.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 134 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:39 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When
August 16, 3:39 PM EST to 3:40 PM EST
Where
Warren County, Millbrook to Phillipsburg
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
41.070, -74.980

Hail, Warren

When
August 16, 3:40 PM EST
Where
Warren County, Washington
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
40.770, -74.970

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Jersey in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, August 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5621633, 5621634.