Thousands of New Jersey homes and businesses were plunged into darkness on Friday after another round of powerful thunderstorms tore through the state, marking the second consecutive day of widespread power disruptions.
According to outage data compiled from major utility providers, more than 3,000 customers across New Jersey were without electricity as of 7 p.m. Friday. The outages stemmed from a fresh wave of storms that brought strong, gusty winds capable of snapping tree limbs and downing power lines in multiple counties.
Meteorologists warned that wind gusts during Friday’s storms could reach up to 60 mph in some areas. The intensity of these storms has been amplified by unusually steamy temperatures combined with high humidity levels, creating ideal conditions for sudden, violent downbursts.
This latest round of severe weather follows an even more disruptive night on Thursday, when more than 10,000 homes and businesses across the state lost power as thunderstorms swept through overnight and into the early morning hours. That number began to fall steadily as utility crews worked through the night, with outages dropping to around 1,600 by 7 a.m. Friday and further declining to roughly 970 by 12:30 p.m.
However, Friday evening’s new storm activity reversed that downward trend, pushing outage numbers back up into the thousands as fresh damage was reported across various regions.
Utility companies have crews actively working to restore power, though officials caution that additional storms moving through the area could cause further disruptions before full restoration is completed. Residents in affected areas are advised to stay clear of any downed power lines, as gusty conditions may continue to topple weakened branches and utility poles.
Authorities are urging residents to report outages directly to their utility providers and to prepare for the possibility of extended power loss if storm activity persists into the evening hours. Charging devices, securing loose outdoor items, and having flashlights ready are recommended precautions as New Jersey braces for what could be another turbulent night of unpredictable weather.
