Hail in New Jersey, May 24, 1999

An unusually large hail storm caused considerable crop damage in Gloucester and western Atlantic Counties as well as adjacent Camden County. A one mile wide and six mile long swath of large hail fell from Ancora in Camden County through Hammonton in Atlantic County. Nearly all of the 350 acres of peach orchards in Atlantic County were damaged as were 25 acres of peas. Damage in Gloucester County was not concentrated in one area. This was the second severe thunderstorm with large hail to affect Gloucester County today. It was estimated that 5,700 acres on 54 farms in Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester Counties were damaged by the large hail. Sixty percent of the sweet corn and 40 percent of the strawberry crop were damaged in the three county area. The apple fruit was also pockmarked by the hail. Other crops damaged included asparagus, peppers, squash and sweet potatoes. Governor Whitman asked the USDA to declare the region a natural disaster area. Farmers were able to replant the damaged vegetable fields since the large hail occurred early in the growing season.