Tornado in February? Winds, Hail Rip Through Mercer County, NJ

A fast-moving line of thunderstorms in Mercer County brought down trees and power lines Tuesday afternoon.

A tornado warning was put into effect around 3:30 PM as a thunderstorm developed a strong area of rotation in the Highstown-East Windsor-Cranbury area, according to WPG Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow. The warning was canceled at 4:15 PM.

Zarrow said the National Weather Service will review information and send a storm survey team to the area if warranted on Wednesday.

"If confirmed, this would not be the first time a tornado formed in New Jersey in February," Zarrow said. "On Feb. 12, 1999, an F-1 storm hit Camden County. And Feb. 2, 1973, was a violent day for Hunterdon County, with at least three tornado reports."

The area of Lawrence Square Village on the Lawrence-West Windsor border took heavy damage. Several large trees were knocked down in backyards, siding was torn off condominium buildings and the roof was damaged at Quakerbridge Computer and Learning Service.

West Windsor police said a tree fell onto a car on Conover Road but there were no injuries.

PSE&G reported nearly 800 customers without power in West Windsor as of 4:45 PM.

Power lines were brought down on Route 1 north of Franklin Corner Road in Lawrence Township closing down the highway in both directions. It was reopened around 4:30 PM.

Hail that was an inch in diameter also fell in sections of Ewing, Lawrenceville, Hamilton, and Pennington.