More than 249,000 homes and businesses across New Jersey were plunged into darkness Friday evening as a brutal heat wave — already pushing temperatures into the upper 90s and low 100s — was struck by fast-moving thunderstorms that ripped through the state with winds clocking at 70 miles per hour.
The dangerous combination of extreme heat and violent weather created a near-perfect crisis: residents who desperately needed air conditioning to survive the scorching temperatures suddenly found themselves without power as the storms tore through northern and central counties starting around 6 p.m., then pushed into southern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore by 9 p.m.
Wind gusts reaching 70 mph were recorded at Newark Liberty Airport, while gusts of 67 mph hit Bayonne and 64 mph struck Sea Girt in Monmouth County. The National Weather Service confirmed dozens of downed trees and power lines across Hunterdon, Monmouth, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties — with several large trees reported crashing directly onto houses.
“Extended high heat can put real stress on the electric system. We are working 24/7 to safely restore customers as quickly as possible.” — PSE&G spokesperson
JCP&L saw the most dramatic spike in outages — starting the evening at roughly 18,000 reported disruptions, the number exploded to more than 185,000 within two hours. Tinton Falls in Monmouth County reported the highest concentration of outages, with approximately 3,000 customers affected in that area alone.
Utility officials confirmed there are no rolling blackouts being implemented. However, with an estimated restoration timeline not yet issued, residents without power face the urgent danger of extreme heat exposure overnight — a situation that public health officials warn can turn life-threatening within hours, particularly for the elderly, children, and those with medical conditions.
Residents are strongly urged to find air-conditioned locations such as cooling centers, libraries, or shopping malls until power is restored. Check local county websites for the nearest cooling center locations.
