The cloud mass scared the hay out of the folks attending the graduation ceremony at Absegami High School in Galloway Township, but it was not tornado.
Our esteemed colleague Amy Rosenberg has posted vivid images and an enternating item on her Downahsore blog.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly believes the mass probably was a "wall cloud," as opposed to a funnel cloud or tornado.
It was s seriously dangerous storm, however, with 3/4-inch hail reported at 7 p.m. by a trained spotter. We don't have a wind report from the scene, but at Atlantic City winds gusted to 24 m.p.h.
The weather service typically investigates a site when a tornado is suspected; not that it makes much difference whether a strong wind blows in circles or in a straight line.
By the way, Amy also posted an image of those lunar-related floods earlier this week.