Damaging Wind in New Jersey, September 7, 1998

A squall line of severe thunderstorms rocked Middlesex County around 215 p.m. EDT on Monday the 7th. It knocked down numerous trees and power lines and forced five municipalities in the northern part of the county to declare states of emergency. Over four dozen homes and businesses were damaged, mainly by fallen trees. Only one person was injured when a tree limb fell on them in South Brunswick. Some schools were closed on the 8th because power was still out and roads were still blocked. The county damage estimate was around 1.858 million dollars. Throughout the state 218,000 homes and businesses lost power. Power was not fully restored in Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties until Saturday the 12th. Service was suspended on New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line between Bay Head and Newark because of downed lines. States of Emergency were declared in Dunellen Borough, Edison Township, Middlesex Borough, South Plainfield Borough and Woodbridge Townships. In Dunellen Borough, a dozen streets were closed. Most of the borough lost power during the thunderstorm and 60 percent of the borough still did not have power the afternoon of the 8th. In Edison Township, major intersections were closed. Several roads were still closed the afternoon of the 8th. About 20 homes and businesses on the north side of town were damaged. In Middlesex Borough, there were about one hundred storm related incidences. Three homes were declared unsafe displacing 10 residents. About a dozen homes and numerous vehicles were damaged. Downed wires also started around 30 small fires. In South Plainfield, two homes and one swimming pool were damaged by fallen trees. Several vehicles were also damaged. In Woodbridge Township, numerous homes were damaged in the Avenel, Colonia and Iselin sections. An above ground pool was also crushed. Damage was not confined to just these areas. In The Amboys many homes lost their water when the electricity went down. A few homes suffered minor damage from downed trees. In Piscataway Township, much of the town lost power as many trees were knocked down. Numerous trees were also knocked down in Old Bridge Township. Chimneys were knocked down in both North and South Brunswick Townships. The squall line also toppled some trees in New Brunswick and Plainsboro Township. About 218,000 homes and businesses lost power throughout the state of New Jersey. Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties were hardest hit. About 59,000 customers still did not have power the afternoon of the 8th. The number dropped to 12,000 on the 9th and 2,100 the morning of the 11th. Power was fully restored on the 12th. It was estimated that 2,100 power lines had to be replaced in Central New Jersey.