High Wind in New Jersey, September 11, 2002

Name: High Wind in New Jersey, September 11, 2002
Start: 2002-09-11T09:00
End: 2002-09-11T18:00
Location: New Jersey

September 11, 2002 · NWS PHI · 21 events in 21 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 2
Injuries: 2
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 21

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 pressure difference between a strong high pressure system in the central part of the country and Tropical Storm Gustav located well east of the Delmarva Peninsula produced strong gusty northwest winds throughout the day on the 11th. Winds frequently gusted between 35 and 45 mph throughout the day and caused considerably more tree damage than usually occurs with winds of that speed. Higher wind gusts occurred along the immediate New Jersey coast. Trees, tree limbs, power lines and portable basketball hoops were knocked down. Wind blown objects killed two people and injured two others. Downed trees also damaged several vehicles and homes. The worst reported damage in the state was from Burlington and Ocean Counties northward. About 14,000 homes and businesses in those parts of the state lost power. Two people were killed by the wind. A 62-year-old masonry man was crushed by a wind toppled wall at a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse under construction in West Windsor Township (Mercer County) at 1120 a.m. EDT. He was crushed by tons of concrete as he was standing on scaffolding at the north end of the work site working on the lower wall. The upper section of the wall blew over. The 13 foot by 30 foot long cinder block wall was built in mid-August. A 75-year-old woman was struck and killed by a large limb (eight inches in diameter) while waiting for her husband to pick her up in an antiques flea market parking lot in West Amwell Township. Another 79-year-old woman suffered bruises and scratches from the same branch. The same tree was rammed by two large trucks in 1999. The limb fell from about 100 feet. A 53-year-old man in Pequannock (Morris County) was slightly injured when a tree landed on his vehicle. In Sussex County downed trees and power lines were reported in six townships. In Warren County, downed trees and wires were reported in Phillipsburg. The arcing wires caused some small fires. In Morris County, wind damage was reported in about a dozen municipalities. In Boonton Township, three homes suffered gutter and siding damage. One vehicle was also damaged by fallen trees. In Butler Borough, one road was closed into the 12th because of downed trees. Mendham Township dismissed their school children early to give bus drivers more time to negotiate around downed trees. In Madison Township, a fallen wire started brush fires and delayed a transit train. In Hanover Township, five vehicles were damaged by fallen trees. Parsippany Township emergency personnel responded to about 15 weather related problems. In Somerset County, sections of U.S. Routes 202 and 206 were closed because of downed trees and wires. A dump truck driver narrowly escaped serious injury when a tree fell on his vehicle in Far Hills Borough. A woman also narrowly escaped injury when another tree fell on her vehicle in Bernards Township. In Bernardsville Borough, several large trees were knocked down and a gutter and a window of one home was damaged. Downtown Basking Ridge (Bernards Township) was blacked out for seven hours. Burlington County emergency personnel responded to twenty-nine weather related calls. Peak wind gusts included 60 mph in Keansburg (Monmouth County), 56 mph at Barnegat Light (Ocean County), 53 mph in Point Pleasant (Ocean County), 52 mph in Sandy Hook (Monmouth County), 46 mph in Belmar (Monmouth County) and Cape May (Cape May County), 44 mph at the Atlantic City International Airport, 43 mph in Somerville (Somerset County), 41 mph in Trenton (Mercer County) and Sussex (Sussex County), 40 mph in Wrightstown (Burlington County) and 39 mph in Millville (Cumberland County). Most of the peak gusts occurred during the early afternoon. This was the first widespread wind gusts of these speeds since May 14th. It was suspected tree damage occurred because its been four months since similar gusts happened and because the gusty winds persisted for an extended part of the day.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 11, 2:10 AM EST, 6 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 11, 2:10 AM EST, 6 hours 50 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
310 AM EDT WED SEP 11 2002

MODELS ARE HANDLING SITUATION FAIRLY WELL IN DEPICTING TS GUSTAV
FINALLY MOVG NE WITH MOSTLY DRY CDFNT PUSHING THRU THIS MRNG. WINDS
ARE TURNING NW NOW IN THE WAKE OF GUS BUT AS FNT MOVS THRU AND
GRADIENT INCREASES THIS MRNG WE WL SEE WINDS PICK UP. LOCAL SCHEME
SHOWS WINDS JUST BLO ADVY CRITERIA...WITH 850 WINDS PROGGED BLO 50
KT AND 3 HRLY PRES RISES BLO 5 MB PER HR. ALSO...NO REAL STG NOSE OF
NVA TIL TNGT. WL GO WTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40. THEN...WINDS
SHUD DCRS OVRNGT AS GRAD LOOSENS A BIT. WL SEND AN SPS TO ADDRESS
THE SITUATION.

OTHERWISE...FNT SHUD BE MAINLY DRY BUT FOR CONTINUITY AND BLENDING
PURPOSES WL CARRY A CHC OF SPKLS NWRN ZONES THIS MRNG. OTHERWISE
CLDS ERN ZONES SHUD FADE EWD AND SC SHUD DVLP IN THE WAKE OF THE FNT
THIS MRNG...MOST WIDESPREAD NRN ZONES...BFR DSIPTG LATER THIS AFTN.
SOME FOG ERN ZONES SHUD DSIPT VERY ERY THIS MRNG BUT WL MENTION FOR
A CPL OF HRS TIL WINDS DISPERSE IT.

TEMPS...NO REAL ARGUMENTS WITH FWC/S ALTHO THOUGHT THAT MINS WUD BE
JUST AS LOW THU NITE WITH BETTER RADNL CONDS...ALTHO CERTAINLY NOT
IDEAL CONDS.

WL CONT WITH THE SMALL CRAFT ADVY ON THE CSTL WATERS AND FOR
DE BAY.

MPO   68  43  67  42 /  20   0   0   0
ABE   78  48  71  48 /  20   0   0   0
RDG   81  50  73  50 /  20   0   0   0
PHL   81  54  76  55 /  10   0   0   0
12N   75  46  70  45 /  20   0   0   0
SMQ   80  50  74  50 /  10   0   0   0
TTN   80  52  75  53 /  10   0   0   0
MIV   81  51  74  50 /  10   0   0   0
ACY   78  57  76  58 /  10   0   0   0
ILG   81  53  74  53 /  10   0   0   0
DOV   81  54  74  54 /  10   0   0   0
GED   82  55  75  54 /  10   0   0   0
ESN   82  55  75  55 /  10   0   0   0

.PHI...
DE...NONE.
MD...NONE.
NJ...NONE.
PA...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVY SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK ISLAND DE
          AND DE BAY...ANZ450>455-430-431.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 11, 3:00 AM EST, 6 hours before

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-111400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - GUSTY WINDS TODAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
400 AM EDT WED SEP 11 2002

WINDY CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR TODAY.

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA AND OFFSHORE THIS MORNING...
AND COMBINE WITH TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV WHICH IS ALREADY MOVING
NORTHEAST OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST. AS THIS HAPPENS...THE
NORTHWEST FLOW OVER OUR AREA WILL INCREASE DURING THIS MORNING...
AFTER THE RUSH HOUR. WINDS FROM THE NORTHWEST OF 20 TO 30 MILES AN
HOUR SHOULD DEVELOP BY LATE MORNING. THERE WILL BE HIGHER GUSTS...
WITH SOME WIND GUSTS POSSIBLY NEAR OR JUST OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR BY
MIDDAY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

IT WILL STILL BE BREEZY EARLY TONIGHT...BUT WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DIMINISH TO 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR...AND TO 10 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR
RIGHT ALONG THE SHORELINE...AFTER MIDNIGHT.

ALTHOUGH A WIND ADVISORY HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED...IT WOULD STILL BE
PRUDENT TO SECURE OR BRING INSIDE ANY LOOSE OBJECTS THIS MORNING.
MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVERSING BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES
TODAY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT
WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/PHI IN SMALL LETTERS.

Special weather statement, Sep 11, 8:59 AM EST, 1 minute before

SPSPHI
DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-120200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
959 AM EDT WED SEP 11 2002

WINDY CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR TODAY.

A COLD FRONT MOVED ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING...USHERING IN
COOLER DRIER AIR.  NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR WILL
OCCUR INTO THE EVENING HOURS...WITH GUSTS REACHING TO AROUND
40 MILES AN HOUR.

THE WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DROP OFF AFTER SUNSET...DIMINISHING TO
10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR...AND TO 10 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR RIGHT ALONG
THE SHORELINE...AFTER MIDNIGHT.

ALTHOUGH A WIND ADVISORY HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED...IT WOULD STILL BE
PRUDENT TO SECURE OR BRING INSIDE ANY LOOSE OBJECTS TODAY.
MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVERSING BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT
WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/PHI IN SMALL LETTERS.

RPW

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

21 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Western Monmouth

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Western Monmouth forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Camden

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Camden forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.804, -74.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cumberland

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.328, -75.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Atlantic

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Atlantic forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Cape May

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Cape May forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.085, -74.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Monmouth

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Monmouth forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Ocean

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Ocean forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Gloucester

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Gloucester forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.717, -75.142 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hunterdon

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Hunterdon forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.567, -74.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Mercer

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.283, -74.702 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Middlesex

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.440, -74.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Morris

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Morris forecast zone
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.862, -74.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northwestern Burlington

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Northwestern Burlington forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.878, -74.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Salem

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Salem forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.577, -75.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Somerset

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Somerset forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.564, -74.616 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeastern Burlington

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Southeastern Burlington forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.878, -74.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Sussex

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Sussex forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.140, -74.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Warren

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.857, -74.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Atlantic

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Western Atlantic forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Cape May

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Western Cape May forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.085, -74.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Ocean

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Western Ocean forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
High Wind, Hunterdon	2002-09-11	75	Female	Under Tree	Direct
High Wind, Mercer	2002-09-11	62	Male	Business	Direct

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

Every storm in New Jersey in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in New Jersey, September 2002

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: 5321087, 5321088, 5321089, 5321090, 5321091, 5321092, 5321093, 5321094, 5321095, 5321096, 5321097, 5321098, 5321099, 5321179, 5321180, 5321181, 5321182, 5321183, 5321184, 5321185, 5321186.