27K Lose Power, Schools Close After Severe NJ Weather Slams State

NEW JERSEY — More than 27,000 were without power early Friday morning after a fierce storm hit New Jersey, knocking down trees and causing a traffic mess. The number of power outages shrunk from 47,000 by 8:30 a.m. (see towns without power below).

A building collapsed at Monmouth Airport in Wall, and a tornado warning was temporarily issued in four New Jersey counties on Friday morning as downed wires and trees were reported across the state. A ramp was closed on I-280 in West Orange (see road conditions below).

One New Jersey town, Metuchen, closed a school because of a chemical spill and a fire closed a major roadway. Read more: Metuchen High School Closes After Spill, While Fire Closes Route 27

Madison closed schools after declaring itself a local disaster area. Read more: Madison Declares Itself Local Disaster Area, Closes Schools

Route 34, between I-195 and Belmar Boulevard in Wall Township, was closed and detoured. Downed poles and wires were also reported throughout out Hillsborough and Montgomery, causing road closures Friday morning. Read more: Route 206 Closed In Both Directions Due To Downed Power Lines

Library Place and Hodge Road will be closed in Princeton because of downed wires and trees. Use alternative roads. Read more: Downed Wires, Road Closures, Outages Reported In Princeton. A major road was also closed in Caldwell. Read more: Road Closure In Caldwell After Storm

Photos on social media showed damage that closed streets and major roadways throughout the state.

The tornado warning was issued in Middlesex, Somerset, Mercer and Hunterdon counties. Here is the alert, which was in effect until 12:30 a.m.:

Here were the towns without power at 9:15 a.m.:

1. WEST ORANGE TWP 1,971
2. WALL TOWNSHIP 1,546
3. PLAINSBORO TWP 1,523
4. TRENTON CITY 1,399
5. BERNARDS TOWNSHIP 749
6. HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP 703
7. LIVINGSTON TOWNSHIP 600
8. Longport Boro 476
9. HOLLAND TOWNSHIP 456
10. HAZLET TOWNSHIP 450
11. EDISON TWP 449
12. HOWELL TOWNSHIP 444
13. HARDING TOWNSHIP 404
14. ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP 348
15. WEST CALDWELL TWP 338
16. PHILLIPSBURG TOWN 337
17. READINGTON TOWNSHIP 331
18. BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP 326
19. MONTCLAIR TWP 323
20. STOCKTON BOROUGH 319
21. JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP 310
22. HOPATCONG BOROUGH 305
23. EAST AMWELL TOWNSHIP 294
24. WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP 277
25. CHATHAM TOWNSHIP 266
26. KINGWOOD TOWNSHIP 264
27. DELAWARE TOWNSHIP 240
28. TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP 199
29. POINT PLEASANT BOROUGH 190
30. PEAPACK AND GLADSTONE BOROUGH 186
31. PASSAIC CITY 173
32. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 157
33. Egg Harbor Twp 144
34. HOLMDEL TOWNSHIP 138
35. WARREN TOWNSHIP 137
36. LONG HILL TOWNSHIP 136
37. POINT PLEASANT BEACH BOROUGH 136
38. RARITAN TOWNSHIP 134
39. HOPEWELL TWP 131
40. EAST HANOVER TOWNSHIP 130
41. MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP 120
42. MOUNT LAUREL TWP 117
43. SOUTH ORANGE VILLAGE TWP 109
44. RUMSON BOROUGH 108
45. TEWKSBURY TOWNSHIP 102
46. DEPTFORD TWP 93
47. EWING TWP 93
48. HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP 92
49. MORRIS TOWNSHIP 90
50. FRELINGHUYSEN TOWNSHIP 85
51. BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP 80
52. KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP 78
53. Ship Bottom Boro 77
54. CHATHAM BOROUGH 76
55. Washington Twp 74
56. Surf City Boro 74
57. CALDWELL BORO 73
58. LIVINGSTON TWP 73
59. MENDHAM TOWNSHIP 69
60. MARLBORO TOWNSHIP 65
61. NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP 65
62. MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP 65
63. ROSELAND BORO 65
64. SOUTH BRUNSWICK TWP 65
65. MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP 63
66. MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP 63
67. OCEAN TOWNSHIP 63
68. LEBANON TOWNSHIP 57
69. EAST BRUNSWICK TWP 57
70. BERNARDSVILLE BOROUGH 56
71. Franklin Twp 56
72. BRIDGEWATER TWP 56
73. MILLBURN TOWNSHIP 54
74. BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP 53
75. INTERLAKEN BOROUGH 53
76. Lower Alloways Creek Twp 52
77. GLEN RIDGE BORO 52
78. PRINCETON 51
79. STILLWATER TOWNSHIP 50
80. ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS BORO 49
81. PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP 48
82. MIDDLESEX BORO 48
83. Monroe Twp 44
84. INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP 43
85. WHITE TOWNSHIP 43
86. IRVINGTON TWP 43
87. SUMMIT CITY 42
88. RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE 41
89. MONTGOMERY TWP 41
90. UNION TWP 41
91. PATERSON CITY 40
92. Atlantic City 39
93. West Milford 38
94. EAST ORANGE CITY 38
95. LEONIA BORO 36
96. WAYNE TWP 36
97. UNION TOWNSHIP 35
98. Franklin Lakes 35
99. MAPLEWOOD TWP 35
100. MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP 33
101. FAR HILLS BOROUGH 33
102. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 33
103. JACKSON TOWNSHIP 32
104. WESTFIELD TOWN 29
105. Buena Vista Twp 28
106. PROSPECT PARK BORO 27
107. HAMPTON TOWNSHIP 26
108. ANDOVER TOWNSHIP 25
109. HIGH BRIDGE BOROUGH 24
110. BOONTON TOWN 24
111. OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP 23
112. HARDYSTON TOWNSHIP 23
113. CLINTON TOWNSHIP 21
114. Pittsgrove Twp 21
115. HACKETTSTOWN TOWN 20
116. DENVILLE TOWNSHIP 19
117. FLORHAM PARK BOROUGH 18
118. BRICK TOWNSHIP 18
119. BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP 18
120. HARMONY TOWNSHIP 18
121. ESSEX FELLS BORO 18
122. ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP 17
123. MOUNT ARLINGTON BOROUGH 17
124. BEACHWOOD BOROUGH 17
125. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 17
126. PLAINFIELD CITY 17
127. BARRINGTON BORO 14
128. HAMILTON TWP 14
129. HILLSIDE TWP 14
130. LITTLE FALLS TWP 13
131. BLOOMSBURY BOROUGH 12
132. NEPTUNE CITY BOROUGH 12
133. HANOVER TOWNSHIP 12
134. ROXBURY TOWNSHIP 12
135. NORTH CALDWELL BORO 12
136. BERKELEY TOWNSHIP 11
137. MONROE TOWNSHIP 10
138. MORRIS PLAINS BOROUGH 10
139. HOPE TOWNSHIP 10
140. Upper Deerfield Twp 10
141. Hamilton Twp 9
142. Mannington Twp 9
143. FAIRFIELD TWP 9
144. NEWARK CITY 9
145. PISCATAWAY TWP 9
146. CLARK TWP 9
147. FAIR HAVEN BOROUGH 8
148. HIGHLANDS BOROUGH 8
149. CHESTER TOWNSHIP 8
150. MONTAGUE TOWNSHIP 8
151. POHATCONG TOWNSHIP 8
152. ELMWOOD PARK BORO 8
153. MANSFIELD TWP 8
154. HILLSBOROUGH TWP 8
155. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP 7
156. LAMBERTVILLE CITY 7
157. MILFORD BOROUGH 7
158. BELMAR BOROUGH 7
159. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP 7
160. LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP 7
161. PARAMUS BORO 7
162. WOODBURY CITY 7
163. MORRISTOWN TOWN 6
164. Linwood City 6
165. SAYREVILLE BOROUGH 5
166. BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP 5
167. SPARTA TOWNSHIP 5
168. LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP 5
169. Shamong Twp 5
170. CLIFTON CITY 5
171. WARREN TWP 5
172. Wyckoff 4
173. Closter 2
174. Harrington Park 1
175. Oakland 1
176. Ramsey 1

Here are the road conditions as of 9:15 a.m.

• Downed tree on I-280 eastbound ramp from East of Exit 7 - Pleasant Valley Way/CR 636 in West Orange Twp. Ramp closed.
• Flooding on I-78 eastbound at Exit 45 - CR 527/Glenside Ave in Summit. Partial ramp closed.
• Downed tree on US 22 in both directions west of US 206 in Bridgewater Twp. Right lane closed.
• Downed tree on US 22 eastbound West of CR 677/Morris St in Phillipsburg. Right lane closed.
• Crash on NJ 73 southbound south of NJ 38 in Maple Shade Twp. Right lane closed 5-10 minute delay, use caution.
• Crash on the George Washington Bridge eastbound east of New Jersey Side/Lower Level Toll Plaza in Fort Lee. Left lane blocked.
• Disabled vehicle on Port Newark Elizabeth Marine Terminal on Southbound Corbin Street at Marsh Street. Right lane blocked.
• Downed wires on US 206 in both directions South of CR 608/Dukes Pkwy in Hillsborough Twp. All lanes closed and detoured.
• Crash on NJ 208 southbound Goffle Rd in Hawthorne. Right lane closed 10-15 minute delay.
• Flooding on NJ 24 eastbound at Exit 7 - NJ 124/JFK Parkway in Millburn Twp. Partial ramp closed.
• Flooding on I-78 eastbound at Exit 45 - CR 527/Glenside Ave in Summit. Partial ramp closed.
• Downed tree on US 22 in both directions West of US 206 in Bridgewater Twp. Right lane closed.
• Downed tree and downed wires on US 206 in both directions South of CR 608/Dukes Pkwy in Hillsborough Twp. All lanes closed and detoured.
• Downed tree on US 22 eastbound West of CR 677/Morris St in Phillipsburg. Right lane closed.
• Downed tree on I-280 eastbound ramp from East of Exit 7 - Pleasant Valley Way/CR 636 in West Orange Twp. Ramp closed.
• Debris spill on the New Jersey Turnpike outer roadway northbound South of Interchange 13A - Newark Liberty International Airport/US 1&9 in Elizabeth. 1 lane blocked.
• Downed pole and downed wires and a Traffic Signal Down on NJ 34 in both directions between I-195 and CR 18/Belmar Blvd in Wall Twp. All lanes closed and detoured follow detour, 10-15 minute delay.
• Downed wires on NJ 27 in both directions South of Grove Av in Metuchen. All lanes closed and detoured.
• Downed wires on NJ 29 in both directions South of CR 519/Kingwood-Stockton Rd in Stockton. All lanes closed and detoured.

Here were the towns without power at 2 a.m.:

1. JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP 2,636
2. East Greenwich Twp 2,100
3. HOWELL TOWNSHIP 2,029
4. BERNARDS TOWNSHIP 1,971
5. HAMILTON TWP 1,917
6. BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP 1,784
7. Franklin Twp 1,758
8. WILLINGBORO TWP 1,536
9. EAST AMWELL TOWNSHIP 1,395
10. ROBBINSVILLE TWP 1,018
11. BERKELEY TOWNSHIP 977
12. WOODBRIDGE TWP 967
13. BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP 925
14. PASSAIC CITY 921
15. MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP 854
16. WEST CALDWELL TWP 821
17. MARLBORO TOWNSHIP 724
18. LIVINGSTON TOWNSHIP 711
19. HOPEWELL TWP 704
20. READINGTON TOWNSHIP 688
21. LEONIA BORO 664
22. EDISON TWP 640
23. HACKETTSTOWN TOWN 623
24. Longport Boro 577
25. LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP 561
26. Hamilton Twp 541
27. CHATHAM TOWNSHIP 503
28. WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP 492
29. DUMONT BORO 486
30. HOPATCONG BOROUGH 465
31. ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP 452
32. KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP 447
33. Washington Twp 424
34. DELAWARE TOWNSHIP 410
35. CLIFTON CITY 409
36. MANVILLE BORO 396
37. Atlantic City 381
38. Harrison Twp 375
39. SOUTHAMPTON TWP 372
40. LINDEN CITY 360
41. BRICK TOWNSHIP 337
42. HARDING TOWNSHIP 336
43. VOORHEES TWP 333
44. INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP 329
45. UNION TOWNSHIP 320
46. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 316
47. HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP 315
48. EWING TWP 313
49. NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP 311
50. BEACHWOOD BOROUGH 288
51. BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP 267
52. COLTS NECK TOWNSHIP 262
53. Clayton Boro 255
54. KINGWOOD TOWNSHIP 248
55. LEBANON TOWNSHIP 242
56. BORDENTOWN TWP 237
57. MANALAPAN TOWNSHIP 231
58. CHESTER TOWNSHIP 225
59. MONTCLAIR TWP 216
60. WALL TOWNSHIP 206
61. WESTAMPTON TWP 204
62. CHATHAM BOROUGH 196
63. LONG HILL TOWNSHIP 175
64. Millville City 172
65. CHERRY HILL TWP 168
66. MOUNT ARLINGTON BOROUGH 157
67. Egg Harbor Twp 153
68. FORT LEE BORO 152
69. BRIDGEWATER TWP 152
70. ENGLISHTOWN BOROUGH 139
71. RARITAN TOWNSHIP 138
72. FAIRFIELD TWP 136
73. TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP 130
74. ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP 122
75. HANOVER TOWNSHIP 116
76. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 114
77. CALDWELL BORO 113
78. PISCATAWAY TWP 109
79. OCEAN TOWNSHIP 102
80. PRINCETON 101
81. SOUTH ORANGE VILLAGE TWP 99
82. Mantua Twp 94
83. NEW MILFORD BORO 93
84. HARMONY TOWNSHIP 89
85. SCOTCH PLAINS TWP 89
86. MORRIS TOWNSHIP 87
87. WESTFIELD TOWN 86
88. RUMSON BOROUGH 79
89. PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP 77
90. TEWKSBURY TOWNSHIP 76
91. Estell Manor City 75
92. Upper Deerfield Twp 75
93. Shamong Twp 73
94. Galloway Twp 72
95. MINE HILL TOWNSHIP 70
96. SUMMIT CITY 70
97. Ship Bottom Boro 69
98. ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP 64
99. MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP 63
100. BYRAM TOWNSHIP 63
101. MOUNTAINSIDE BOROUGH 63
102. LIVINGSTON TWP 61
103. WOODBURY CITY 61
104. WARREN TOWNSHIP 60
105. MONROE TOWNSHIP 58
106. MILLBURN TOWNSHIP 54
107. WEST ORANGE TWP 53
108. POINT PLEASANT BOROUGH 52
109. BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP 49
110. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP 46
111. LITTLE FALLS TWP 46
112. Laurel Springs Boro 46
113. GLEN RIDGE BORO 45
114. WAYNE TWP 45
115. Monroe Twp 45
116. BERNARDSVILLE BOROUGH 44
117. LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP 44
118. Quinton Twp 41
119. HAZLET TOWNSHIP 38
120. STILLWATER TOWNSHIP 36
121. ALLAMUCHY TOWNSHIP 35
122. MONTGOMERY TWP 34
123. Mullica Twp 34
124. BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP 33
125. FAR HILLS BOROUGH 33
126. MOORESTOWN TWP 32
127. PINE BEACH BOROUGH 31
128. HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP 31
129. Buena Boro 31
130. SOUTH BRUNSWICK TWP 29
131. Alloway Twp 29
132. LITTLE FERRY BORO 28
133. SPARTA TOWNSHIP 23
134. FRELINGHUYSEN TOWNSHIP 23
135. ROXBURY TOWNSHIP 22
136. PEAPACK AND GLADSTONE BOROUGH 22
137. Hammonton Town 22
138. Pittsgrove Twp 21
139. NEWARK CITY 20
140. FLORHAM PARK BOROUGH 18
141. MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP 18
142. WHITE TOWNSHIP 17
143. Somers Point City 17
144. Linwood City 16
145. Pilesgrove Twp 14
146. CLINTON TOWNSHIP 13
147. LAMBERTVILLE CITY 13
148. OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP 13
149. ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS BOROUGH 13
150. ASBURY PARK CITY 12
151. HARDYSTON TOWNSHIP 12
152. MAPLEWOOD TWP 12
153. STOCKTON BOROUGH 11
154. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 11
155. PHILLIPSBURG TOWN 11
156. NORTH CALDWELL BORO 11
157. Paulsboro Boro 11
158. HIGH BRIDGE BOROUGH 10
159. MORRIS PLAINS BOROUGH 10
160. ENGLEWOOD CITY 10
161. EAST BRUNSWICK TWP 10
162. RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE 9
163. HIGHLANDS BOROUGH 8
164. MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP 8
165. ANDOVER TOWNSHIP 8
166. ELMWOOD PARK BORO 8
167. Corbin City 8
168. Elk Twp 8
169. GLEN GARDNER BOROUGH 7
170. JACKSON TOWNSHIP 7
171. LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP 7
172. PARAMUS BORO 7
173. IRVINGTON TWP 7
174. Upper Twp 7
175. FLEMINGTON BOROUGH 6
176. EAST HANOVER TOWNSHIP 6
177. HAMPTON TOWNSHIP 6
178. BERKELEY HEIGHTS TOWNSHIP 6
179. FREEHOLD BOROUGH 5
180. MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP 5
181. HOPE TOWNSHIP 5
182. GLOUCESTER TWP 5
183. HILLSBOROUGH TWP 5
184. Waterford Twp 5

A severe thunderstorm watch was first issued for 17 counties in New Jersey on Thursday night as severe weather was passing through the state overnight.

The two-day storm was expected bring severe weather, thunder and lightning and damaging winds that could topple trees and knock down power lines, forcing a number of New Jersey towns to reschedule Halloween.

Winds were strong and swirling at the Toms River Halloween Parade, and attendance was lighter than usual. A tree branch also fell; no one was hurt.

The National Weather Service also issued a hazardous weather outlook for the whole state, saying a line of showers with embedded thunderstorms were expected move through the region Thursday evening into the early part of the overnight.

Given many trees remain fully leafed, power outages were possible, the weather service said. Additional trees may be knocked down, and power outages remain possible overnight and on Friday morning.

Here are the towns that have changed their Halloween schedules:

• Buena Vista: Postponed until Friday
• Commercial Township: Postponed until Friday
• Hammonton: Held on Wednesday
• Lacey: Postponed until Friday
• Mantua Twp.: Postponed until Friday
• Millville: Postponed until Friday
• North Plainfield: Postponed until Friday
• Ocean City: Postponed until Friday
• South Plainfield: Offered Saturday as an alternative
• Upper Pittsgrove: Moved to Saturday