Damaging Wind in New Jersey, September 7, 1998

A squall line of severe thunderstorms capsized boats and downed trees and power lines throughout Monmouth County. A 56-year-old man drowned in Sandy Hook Bay after his fishing boat rolled over. About 30 persons were injured, mainly from hypothermia after their sailing vessels capsized mainly in Sandy Hook Bay. The United States Coast Guard rescued about 60 persons from overturned boats. Boats were described as being overturned left and right. The 56-year-old man and his friend went fishing in a 14-foot-vessel. They were about 500 to 600 yards north of Leonard State Marina near Atlantic Highlands when the squall line hit. The boat apparently rolled over and the men were separated during the squall. One managed to swim to shore, but the other gentleman perished. In Sea Bright, lifeguards rescued persons hanging on to a capsized catamaran. Almost every municipality at or near the shore reported downed trees and wires with some vehicles damaged. Along the beaches umbrellas, chairs, towels, bags and boogie boards were tossed into the Atlantic. Some of the worst damage included siding ripped from one home in Long Branch and the partial tear off of a Summit Bank's roof in Hazlet. Wind damage was not confined to shore points either. A wind gust to 75 mph was reported in Freehold. The squall line also left a quarter mile wide strip of snapped poles in Millstone Township. Service was suspended on New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line between Bay Head and Newark because of downed lines. GPU energy reported 34,000 homes and businesses lost power in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.