A wide swath of tree damage was reported in Gloucester and Atlantic counties last Friday, from New Jersey's longest tornado in almost four years.

The NEXT Weather Team is tracking a cluster of severe storms that could move across the Philadelphia region on Friday morning. It appears a weakening cluster of strong-to-severe storms will arrive from west to east between 8 and 11 a.m. on Friday. Due to the possible storms, a NEXT Weather Alert will be in effect for the region.

It was not a tornado, but rather a gustnado with 100-105 mph winds that brought down trees and branches in Franklinville, New Jersey, on May 16, 2025, the National Weather Service said.

The EF-0 tornado generated winds of 65 to 75 mph and remained on the ground for a half-mile, the weather service said after inspecting the storm damage.

The National Weather Service shared new information about the tornado that damaged property in New Jersey and said that a gustnado formed during the storms.

A gustnado is a small whirlwind that forms in thunderstorm outflows, but it does not connect with any cloud-base rotation, which makes it different from a tornado. Similar to dust devils, some stronger gustnadoes can cause damage.

Many trees and utility poles were damaged, a tree crashed through a house and golf ball-sized hail was reported in one New Jersey town.

After a chaotic and emotional day, the clean-up effort in Collings Lakes, New Jersey, is just beginning in this community.

A “gustnado” — a tornado-like whirlwind more common to the Plains than South Jersey — swirled in Gloucester County Friday with winds up to 105 mph, the National Weather Service said Monday.

UPDATE: The tornado threat in New Jersey has diminished and all of the tornado warnings have expired as of 1:30 p.m. Friday. However, forecasters say intense thunderstorms continue to sweep across the state, and several areas remain under flash flood warnings because of the heavy downpours.