New Jersey, 1996

High Wind in New Jersey, February 25, 1996

February 25, 1996 · NWS PHI · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

The difference in surface pressure between a nearly stationary low pressure system near Maine and a high pressure system in North Carolina produced high winds across eastern New Jersey on the 25th. What was unusual about this high wind event, it also featured considerable sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.

The difference in surface pressure between a nearly stationary low pressure system near Maine and a high pressure system in North Carolina produced high winds across eastern New Jersey on the 25th. What was unusual about this high wind event, it also featured considerable sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. Downed trees and power lines caused power outages to about 16,000 homes in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Jersey Central Power and Light reported 13,000 homes lost power in Morris, Somerset and Union Counties. In Chatham, a tree crashed and damaged a house and badly damaged two vehicles in the driveway. A second downed tree caused minor damage to two other houses. Other wind damage included the collapse of skylights in Monmouth Hall in Eatontown, partially ripped roofs at the former Harbor Island Spa in Long Branch and a former bank in Allentown and downed street lights in Barnegat. Wind gusts to 57 mph forced the closure of Allaire Airport in Wall Township.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Morris

When
February 25, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Morris forecast zone
Coordinates
40.862, -74.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Somerset

When
February 25, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Somerset forecast zone
Coordinates
40.564, -74.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Middlesex

When
February 25, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates
40.440, -74.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Monmouth

When
February 25, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Western Monmouth forecast zone
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Monmouth

When
February 25, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Monmouth forecast zone
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Ocean

When
February 25, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Western Ocean forecast zone
Coordinates
39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Ocean

When
February 25, 9:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Ocean forecast zone
Coordinates
39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Jersey in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, February 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5551838, 5551839, 5551840, 5551841, 5551842, 5551843, 5551844.