Three fatalities confirmed as intense thunderstorms and tornado hit central New Jersey
Severe thunderstorms, including an EF-1 tornado, struck central New Jersey during the evening hours of July 3, 2025, killing three people and causing widespread structural damage and power outages.
New Jersey thunderstorm damage on July 3, 2025. Credit: Tommy Pissani
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an intense line of thunderstorms moved across New Jersey between 18:00–19:00 local time (LT), producing wind gusts up to 130 km/h (80 mph), hail, and heavy rainfall. The storms triggered significant damage, with the hardest-hit areas including Plainfield, North Plainfield, Bound Brook, Dunellen, and surrounding municipalities.
The NWS Storm Events Database confirmed the touchdown of an EF-1 tornado in Plainfield, lasting about nine minutes. Over 80 trees were uprooted in Plainfield alone, many landing on houses, cars, and power lines.
Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp declared a state of emergency on July 3, canceling all planned July 4 celebrations, including parades, concerts, and fireworks displays. Governor Phil Murphy extended emergency declarations to include North Plainfield, Bound Brook, and Dunellen, and advised people to stay indoors.
Crazy damage after storm today in North Plainfield pic.twitter.com/qPK89sEyXh
— TOMMY (@tommypisani) July 4, 2025
Two fatalities occurred in Plainfield on Myrtle Avenue when a tree fell directly onto a vehicle, killing a 79-year-old man and a 25-year-old man. Another fatality occurred in North Plainfield on Greenbrook Road, where a woman was struck by a tree while parked during the storm.
At the peak of the storm, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) reported up to 40 000 customers or about 100 000 people were left without power, with significant outages concentrated in Middlesex, Union, Somerset, and Sussex counties.
Cleanup and emergency response efforts began immediately after the storms subsided, with local authorities deploying teams to clear roads, remove hazardous trees, and restore power. Governor Murphy coordinated closely with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM), New Jersey State Police (NJSP), and utility providers to expedite recovery and provide necessary resources.
Breaking New Jersey,
— Yosef Kaplan (@YosefKaplanNJ) July 3, 2025
Sever storms take down trees & power lines.
Rahway & Linden Route 1&9 area. pic.twitter.com/1QMVk49GKL
Residents described the rapid onset and intensity of the storm, with surroundings going dark and things flying around rapidly due to harsh wind.
The NWS has received over 24 storm reports around central New Jersey, and preliminary storm reports indicating widespread gusts between 95–105 km/h (60–65 mph), reaching as high as 130 km/h (80 mph).
References:
1 Multiple deaths reported in New Jersey and Texas after strong thunderstorms – AP News – July 4, 2025
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This is incorrect, according to the NWS “ Doppler Radar and observational analysis support the damage being consistent with straight-line winds and
downbursts. Wind speeds were estimated to range from 65 to 80 mph
based on data from the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar in Newark,
NJ (TEWR), consistent with the resulting damage. There is no
evidence of rotation and no damage surveys are planned”