Hail and Damaging Wind in New Jersey, July 18, 1997

Very powerful severe thunderstorms caused considerable wind damage across east central and northeast Hunterdon County and injured one person. Wind gusts were estimated in excess of 80 mph in Readington Township. Downed trees caused most of the damage to homes and vehicles. In Flemington, a driver suffered spine and head injuries after a tree landed on its vehicle. In Readington Township, portions of the Interstate Iron Works building collapsed. High winds damaged the roof and several sections fell inside the plant. Eight main roads within the township were closed because of fallen trees. An uprooted walnut tree pulled up a tombstone from 1863. Trees came down on two occupied vehicles, but no one was hurt. At least nine vehicles within the township were damaged by fallen trees. In Clinton Township, there was considerable utility pole damage on U.S. Route 22. Three occupied vehicles were hit by fallen trees, but there were no injuries. The hardest hit streets in Clinton included Halsted, Lehigh and West Main.Throughout central and northwest New Jersey about 78,000 (out of a possible 490,000) GPU customers lost power. About 50,000 customers still had no power the morning of the 19th (Saturday). The number was down to 16,000 the (Sunday) evening of the 20th (9,000 in Hunterdon County), 1,000 the afternoon of the 21st (Monday) and the final 94 (in Warren County) were back on line on the 22nd (Tuesday).