Toms River, NJ — As severe thunderstorms moved through Ocean County, false images purporting to show tornadoes in Toms River spread rapidly across social media, prompting officials to urge residents to rely on verified information.
The National Weather Service has not confirmed any tornadoes in Ocean County as of Sunday. Meteorologists also confirmed that a widely shared image claiming to show a tornado near Hooper Avenue and Route 37 in Toms River is not authentic.
AI-generated image fuels confusion
The fabricated image circulated widely on Facebook, with users claiming it depicted a tornado touching down in one of Ocean County’s busiest commercial corridors.
According to the National Weather Service, the image was generated using artificial intelligence and does not show an actual weather event.
Officials warned that sharing fabricated images during severe weather can create unnecessary panic and make it more difficult for residents to distinguish legitimate warnings from misinformation.
Rely on official weather sources
While severe thunderstorms prompted weather alerts across parts of New Jersey, the National Weather Service had not confirmed any tornado touchdowns in Ocean County at the time of publication.
Residents are encouraged to monitor official information from the National Weather Service, local emergency management agencies, and trusted news organizations for updates on watches, warnings, and confirmed storm damage.
As AI-generated images become increasingly realistic, emergency officials say verifying dramatic weather photos before sharing them is becoming more important to prevent the spread of false information.
After last night’s storm, the National Weather Service is only investigating one possible tornado in Delaware.
Source: National Weather Service.
