The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has confirmed two separate tornadoes touched down during a series of severe storms on Friday, May 16, 2025, impacting areas of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. A damage survey released Sunday afternoon provided updated details on both events.
A tornado rated EF-1 with estimated peak winds between 100 and 110 miles per hour began at approximately 6:52 p.m. near Rhodesdale in Dorchester County, Maryland. The tornado traveled 11.4 miles before dissipating at 7:06 p.m. near Bethel in Sussex County, Delaware. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
The tornado began just southeast of Rhodesdale, Maryland, along Rhodesdale-Vienna Road, where it caused significant damage to a row of trees east of the road, snapping many of them and uprooting others. The pattern of the tree damage indicated rotation, with trees bent inward. As the tornado moved east-northeast, little damage was observed along Indiantown Road, suggesting it may have briefly lifted. Damage resumed at Eldorado-Sharptown Road, where more trees were snapped and uprooted. Near Galestown, a long farm building was lifted from its foundation and displaced. The most severe damage occurred in Galestown, where the tornado reached its widest point. Radar data suggested the presence of multiple circulations at this stage. Numerous trees were twisted, snapped, or uprooted, some of which damaged nearby homes.
The tornado crossed into Sussex County, Delaware, over the Nanticoke River and caused tree damage in multiple areas, including Phillips Landing Park, Cherry Walk Woods, Phillips Landing Road, and Shell Bridge Road. A tree near the intersection of Phillips Landing Road and Shell Bridge Road was snapped, and large limbs were brought down near Broad Creek, just southwest of Bethel. The tornado ended in that area, but wind damage continued toward Laurel due to straight-line winds from the storm’s rear-flank downdraft. These winds caused partial or total roof loss to two commercial buildings in Laurel and additional tree damage south of Chipman Pond. Radar data suggests that the tornado may have had multiple circulations at its peak width, resulting in widespread twisting, snapping, and uprooting of trees, some of which damaged homes.
Earlier in the day, a separate tornado touched down in Collings Lakes, New Jersey. Rated EF-0, the tornado reached estimated peak winds of 65 to 75 miles per hour and remained on the ground for one minute, from 12:52 p.m. to 12:53 p.m., covering a distance of approximately 0.5 miles.
The Collings Lakes tornado began along Malaga Road, damaging tree branches and peeling roof sheeting from a small outbuilding. Further damage, primarily downed branches, was identified near Cains Mill Road and Colton Lane. The last confirmed damage occurred near Cloverdale Lane and Wiltshire Drive. Additional tree damage along Cains Mill Road was attributed to straight-line winds rather than tornadic activity.
The Eldorado-Brookview Volunteer Fire Company, Laurel Fire Department, and Sussex County Emergency Management for assisted the National Weather Service with during the storm survey.