Severe weather
Radar-confirmed tornado near Crosswicks, NJ at 4:03 PM; storm crossed Turnpike
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk ยท Published
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
Key points
- Where: The storm crossed the Turnpike at Bordentown, then a tornado was confirmed near Crosswicks, southeast of Trenton.
- When: 4:01 PM ET at the toll plaza. The radar-confirmed tornado came at 4:03 PM ET.
- What: Radar confirmed a tornado, and the warning listed northeast movement at 25 mph, up from 15 mph five minutes earlier.
- What it means: A Level 2 of 5 (Slight Risk) for severe storms covers central and southern New Jersey and far southeastern Pennsylvania through this afternoon. Friday has no severe storms in the outlook.
A tornado-warned storm crossed the New Jersey Turnpike at the Bordentown toll plaza at 4:01 PM ET Thursday, Nov. 12, and radar confirmed a tornado with it near Crosswicks two minutes later. At that point the storm was about 8 miles southeast of Trenton, moving northeast at 25 mph.
The setup that produced this storm is still in place across central and southern New Jersey and far southeastern Pennsylvania this afternoon.
What the Turnpike camera shows
This is a 40-second clip from a New Jersey Turnpike Authority traffic camera at the Bordentown toll plaza, shot from 4:01:12 to 4:01:52 PM. It is low resolution and has no sound. Video: NJ Turnpike Authority traffic camera.
Heavy rain is falling the whole time. Between about 4:01:25 and 4:01:40, the plaza empties out and cars hold at the booths. A blue-white flash fills the sky at about 4:01:33. We don't know what caused it, so we won't guess.
A few small dark specks cross the upper right of the frame a couple of seconds later. Our producers read them as light tree debris blowing past. By about 4:01:40 traffic is moving again. The rain hides the sky, so you won't see a funnel here. What you see is a storm moving through a busy highway checkpoint.
What radar and the warnings say
The storm already had a Tornado Warning for radar-indicated rotation, issued for 3:40 to 4:15 PM. At 3:58 PM it was over Columbus, about 9 miles south of Trenton, moving northeast at 15 mph.
At 4:03 PM a new Tornado Warning went out. It said a tornado-producing storm was over Crosswicks, moving northeast at 25 mph, with the source listed as "radar confirmed tornado." That is a step up from "radar-indicated rotation." It does not tell us how strong the tornado was or whether it reached the ground along the whole path.
Warnings can be reissued as the storm moves northeast. Check our live warnings page for the current box.
Why this setup was in place today
A surface low is tracking eastward across New Jersey while a strong disturbance moves in overhead. Near that low and along the warm front stretching east from it, air is being lifted and the atmosphere is turning unstable. Storm fuel is modest, 500 to 900 units of CAPE, but winds low in the atmosphere are changing speed and direction with height. That twist helps storms rotate.
The Level 2 area has a 5% tornado chance and a 15% chance of quarter-size or larger hail within it. The wider Level 1 area, which includes New York City, Newark, Wilmington and Atlantic City, has a 2% tornado chance. Our severe storm outlook has the full map.
A Level 1 of 4 flash flood risk also covers parts of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, so heavy downpours can pond water on roads.
What to do
- If you're under a warning: Move to a lowest-floor interior room away from windows, and don't wait to see the storm.
- If you're driving the Turnpike or I-295: Pull off at a service area or exit and get inside a sturdy building. Don't shelter under an overpass.
- If you have to drive in heavy rain: Slow down, and turn around if water covers the road.
- Sign up for Y'all Alerts: They reach you when a warning is issued where you are, including after dark.
Bottom line
A radar-confirmed tornado near Crosswicks at 4:03 PM, two minutes after the storm crossed the Bordentown toll plaza, makes the rest of this afternoon a real warning day for central New Jersey and the Philadelphia area. Severe storms are not in the outlook for Friday.
Explained: Watch vs. warning: what PDS watches and emergencies mean
More on Mid-Atlantic severe weather, November 2026
Places in this story: Crosswicks, NJ; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Bordentown, NJ; Trenton, NJ