New Jersey is reeling from the effects of severe thunderstorms that struck the state on Thursday, causing widespread power outages, transportation disruptions, and property damage. Over 41,000 customers are still without power as of Friday morning, following the strong storms that caused hundreds of trees and branches to fall across the state.
Power Outages and Areas Affected
As of 5:15 a.m. Friday, power outages have affected customers of JCP&L, PSE&G, and Atlantic City Electric. The hardest-hit areas include parts of Monmouth and Middlesex counties. The breakdown of reported outages at 5:45 a.m. is as follows:
JCP&L: 31,283 customers without power, primarily in Monmouth County (including Freehold Township, Hazlet, Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown, and Matawan) and Middlesex County (including East Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Spotswood).
PSE&G: 3,388 customers without power, mostly in Mercer County (including Ewing and Hopewell).
Atlantic City Electric and Orange & Rockland Electric also reported scattered outages in their service areas.
The outages were caused by the severe storms that downed trees and power lines throughout the state.
Damage and Disruptions
In addition to power outages, Thursday’s storms caused significant damage in several areas. The National Weather Service received multiple reports of trees falling onto houses in towns like Colts Neck, Cranford, Keansburg, Middletown, and Red Bank.
There was also a report of a tree on top of a vehicle in Harding. Route 29 in Lambertville, Route 34 in Matawan, and Route 206 in Princeton were among the many local roads blocked by fallen trees.
Transportation Impacts
The severe weather has led to major disruptions in transportation. NJ Transit announced that its North Jersey Coast Line will remain suspended on Friday morning due to downed trees near Middletown. Passengers are being advised to use alternate transportation options, with cross-honoring in effect between NJ Transit and private bus carriers.
Flight delays have also been reported at Newark Liberty International Airport. As of Friday morning, 61 departures were canceled on Thursday, with 7 more cancellations reported on Friday.
The Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood was briefly interrupted on Thursday evening due to lightning near the beach. However, the event resumed at 9 p.m., featuring performances by Rascal Flatts and Megan Maroney.
As New Jersey continues to recover from Thursday’s severe thunderstorms, over 41,000 customers are still without power. Restoration efforts are underway, but significant damage from downed trees, power lines, and road closures continue to impact residents. Travelers are advised to check transportation schedules for any further disruptions, and those affected by outages should stay informed about restoration timelines.
