High Wind in New Jersey, October 15, 2003

As a strong area of low pressure moved along the Saint Lawrence River Valley, its' associated cold front traversed Northeast New Jersey early on the morning of Wednesday, October 15th. This system strengthened during the day as it moved across Southeast Canada. Meanwhile, high pressure moved from the Southern Plains across to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states as the day progressed. The difference in pressure between the departing low and the approaching high resulted in a persistent strong wind that reached 40 MPH sustained at 241 am and gusted as high as 49 MPH at 1235 pm at Newark Liberty International Airport.There were widespread reports of damage from these winds that were obtained primarily from the print media as well as from Skywarn spotters. Here are selected wind damage reports:A tree was downed on Monroe Street at Lawrence Avenue in Rahway that also dragged down power lines resulting in a loss of power for the traffic light at the aforementioned intersection.Numerous trees and large tree limbs were downed in Rutherford, North Arlington, and Lyndhurst. A Department of Public Works employee suffered a minor injury when a large branch fell on him in North Arlington. Downed trees and wires blocked Woodland Avenue near Daniel Street and portions of Wood Street. There were also 5 reports of large branches that fell on cars.A tree fell onto the roof of a Canterbury Lane house, punching a 6 inch hole in the roof. Power lines were reported downed on South Terrace and a tree fell across the sidewalk on Millburn Avenue.A large tree fell on several parked cars in Saddle Brook.A large tree was uprooted, and took down a telephone pole and power lines as it fell on Hartley Place in Fairlawn. Several other trees were downed in this neighborhood, including one that fell on a house on Saint Anne's Street.