An approaching cold front produced strong to severe thunderstorms across extreme southeast New Jersey during the late afternoon of the 27th.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
An approaching cold front produced strong to severe thunderstorms across extreme southeast New Jersey during the late afternoon of the 27th.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 27, 2:10 PM EST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 310 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WAS MOVING IN FROM THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. IT IS FORECAST TO STALL IN OUR REGION TONIGHT BEFORE DISSIPATING ON TUESDAY. ANOTHER FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON EITHER WEDNESDAY NIGHT OR THURSDAY. THE SECOND BOUNDARY SHOULD ALSO STALL IN OUR REGION FOR FRIDAY AND FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/... AT 300 PM, WE HAD A FAIR AMOUNT OF CUMULUS OVER OUR FORECAST AREA ALONG WITH ISOLATED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. TEMPERATURES WERE MAINLY IN THE 80S WITH DEW POINT TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S AND LOWER 70S. A WEAK UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE WAS LOCATED OVER THE UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON. IT SHOULD PROGRESS TO THE EAST, PASSING OVER OUR REGION THIS EVENING. AS THE SHORT WAVE APPROACHES, WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER, THEIR COVERAGE AND INTENSITY SHOULD BE LESS THAN THOSE OF SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ANY PRECIPITATION THAT DEVELOPS SHOULD DISSIPATE BY LATE THIS EVENING. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY/... WITH A GOOD AMOUNT OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE, THE ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN UNSTABLE DURING THE SHORT TERM FORECAST PERIOD. ANY PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE ISOLATED, AT BEST, ON TUESDAY AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY DISSIPATES IN OUR REGION. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH OUR BEST CHANCE FOR WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS WEEK WILL BE FROM WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A FEW INGREDIENTS ARE ANTICIPATED TO COME TOGETHER AT THAT TIME. A SHORT WAVE FROM THE WEST IS EXPECTED TO PASS OVERHEAD, THERE WILL BE A LOW LEVEL JET AND ANOTHER SURFACE FRONT SHOULD BE APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST. ALSO, PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES ARE FORECAST TO BE GREATER THAN 2 INCHES, SO WE COULD SEE SOME HEAVY RAIN. WITH THE NEXT FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING IN OUR REGION ON THURSDAY, WE WILL AGAIN CARRY CHANCE POPS. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... THERE SHOULD NOT BE MUCH CHANGE IN THE PATTERN IN THE LONG TERM PERIOD. WE ARE EXPECTING ANOTHER STALLED BOUNDARY IN THE REGION, WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY. && .AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH ONLY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AROUND. CB ARE MENTIONED AT ALL TAF SITES AS ISOLATED STORMS ARE ALREADY FORMING IN PARTS OF THE AREA. WE WILL ALSO MENTION VCTS AT KRDG, KABE AND KTTN AS STORMS MOVE NEAR THEM THIS AFTERNOON. KMIV AND KACY HAVE SEEN SHOWER ACTIVITY MUCH OF THE DAY AND THEREFORE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW SOME -SHRA IN THEIR TAFS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. WINDS WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST BEFORE GOING LIGHT AND VARIABLE OVERNIGHT. ANY CONVECTION WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING AS SKIES CLEAR OUT AND REMAIN CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY OVERNIGHT. CONFIDENCE IN FOG IS NOT HIGH AT THE MOMENT AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE IT OUT OF THIS ISSUANCE. IN ANY AREA THAT RECEIVES RAIN THROUGH TONIGHT...THE POTENTIAL FOR FOG FORMING OVERNIGHT WILL EXIST. OUTLOOK... MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEK WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOONS. LOWER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY PASSING STORMS. && .MARINE... WINDS OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TONIGHT AND OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. WINDS MAY TURN SLIGHTLY TO THE SOUTH BUT THE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL REMAIN DOMINANT. WIND SPEED LOOK TO REMAIN RELATIVELY LIGHT THROUGH MIDWEEK. A FEW GUSTS TONIGHT MAY REACH NEAR 25 KNOTS AND SEAS MAY APPROACH 5 FEET. HOWEVER, CURRENT THOUGHTS ARE THAT IT WILL REMAIN MARGINAL AND WE WILL NOT ISSUE A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. THE MODELS INDICATE AN INCREASE IN WINDS AND WAVES WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY, AT WHICH TIME A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. THE MODELS SHOW ANOTHER INCREASE IN WINDS AND WAVES FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...NONE. NJ...NONE. DE...NONE. MD...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS/NEAR TERM/SHORT TERM/LONG TERM...IOVINO AVIATION/MARINE...MEOLA
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 1240 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 DEZ001>003-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>023-027- PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-281200- NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-CECIL-KENT MD-QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT- CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX- WESTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN- NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY- SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON- CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA- 1240 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL, ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. DEZ004-NJZ014-024>026-281200- DELAWARE BEACHES-EASTERN MONMOUTH-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY- COASTAL ATLANTIC-COASTAL OCEAN- 1240 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY SHORE AND THE DELAWARE BEACHES. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL, ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ430-431-450>455-281200- DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO GREAT EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM GREAT EGG INLET TO CAPE MAY NJ OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE MAY NJ TO CAPE HENLOPEN DE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE HENLOPEN TO FENWICK ISLAND DE OUT 20 NM- 1240 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COASTAL WATERS OF NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE AND FOR DELAWARE BAY. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL, ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO SURFACE LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 143 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 PAZ067-068-070-271845- CHESTER PA-DELAWARE PA-MONTGOMERY PA- 143 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CHESTER...DELAWARE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES... AT 142 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 16 MILES WEST OF WEST CHESTER...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR COATESVILLE...SOUTH COATESVILLE AROUND 200 PM...THORNDALE...DOWNINGTOWN AROUND 215 PM...LIONVILLE... EXTON AROUND 230 PM...MALVERN AND PAOLI AROUND 245 PM. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. EXPECT INTENSE LIGHTNING FROM THIS STORM. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. THIS STORM CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY AND IT MIGHT BECOME NECESSARY TO ISSUE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IF THIS TREND CONTINUES. TFG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 210 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 NJZ001-271845- SUSSEX NJ- 210 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SUSSEX COUNTY... AT 209 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES EAST OF MONTAGUE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR HIGH POINT AROUND 215 PM AND VERNON VALLEY AROUND 245 PM. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. EXPECT INTENSE LIGHTNING FROM THIS STORM. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF INTENSIFICATION AND MIGHT WARRANT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IF THIS TREND CONTINUES. TFG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 227 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 DEZ003-004-272000- DELAWARE BEACHES DE-INLAND SUSSEX DE- 227 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 ...WIDELY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SUSSEX COUNTY... AT 226 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTH OF GEORGETOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR GEORGETOWN...MILLSBORO AROUND 245 PM...LONG NECK...MILLVILLE AROUND 300 PM...LEWES AND HENLOPEN ACRES AROUND 330 PM. A FEW OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO SOUTHEAST OF GEORGETOWN. WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. EXPECT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING FROM THESE STORMS. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. HEAD INDOORS OR OFF THE BEACH AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING WEATHER. TFG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
319 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0307 PM HAIL FENWICK ISLAND 38.46N 75.05W
07/27/2009 M1.00 INCH SUSSEX DE TRAINED SPOTTER
STARTING TO COVER THE GROUND.
&&
TGIGISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 400 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 DEZ003-004-NJZ023-024-272100- ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-CAPE MAY NJ-DELAWARE BEACHES DE- INLAND SUSSEX DE- 400 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CAPE MAY AND SUSSEX COUNTIES... AT 358 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES WEST OF CAPE MAY TO 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF GEORGETOWN TO 16 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GEORGETOWN TO 21 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SALISBURY...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR CAPE MAY POINT...OCEAN VIEW AROUND 415 PM...CAPE MAY...NORTH CAPE MAY AROUND 430 PM...CAPE MAY... WILDWOOD CREST AROUND 445 PM...NORTH WILDWOOD AND STONE HARBOR AROUND 500 PM. WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 45 MPH AND HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. EXPECT INTENSE LIGHTNING FROM THESE STORMS. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES WHEN LIGHTNING THREATENS...MOVE INDOORS WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES QUICKLY. VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL FALL FROM THESE STORMS...AND WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND QUICKLY FILL ROADSIDE DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE, PLEASE STAY ALERT FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. TFG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
415 PM EDT MON JUL 27 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0307 PM HAIL FENWICK ISLAND 38.46N 75.05W
07/27/2009 M1.00 INCH SUSSEX DE TRAINED SPOTTER
STARTING TO COVER THE GROUND.
0310 PM TSTM WND DMG FENWICK ISLAND 38.46N 75.05W
07/27/2009 SUSSEX DE TRAINED SPOTTER
SIDING RIPPED FROM A BUILDING ON GRANT AVENUE.
0323 PM HAIL FENWICK ISLAND 38.46N 75.05W
07/27/2009 M0.50 INCH SUSSEX DE PUBLIC
SECOND STORM OVER FENWICK ISLAND.
&&
TGIGIThe Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:35 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm blew over lifeguard stands, overturned portable toilets and tossed life guard boats down the beach in Wildwood. A measured wind gust of 58 mph was reported at the Cape May Naval Observing Station.
A severe thunderstorm dropped penny size hail in Erma in Lower Township and nickel to quarter size hail in Green Creek, Mayville, Rio Grande and Whitesboro in Middle Township.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Jersey in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, July 2009
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: 186340, 186341.