A short but powerful storm knocked out power across Berkeley Heights and added to a large statewide outage event during dangerous heat.
A short but powerful storm ripped through New Jersey late Friday, knocking out power across Berkeley Heights and leaving residents dealing with a dangerous combination: storm damage, darkness, and oppressive heat.
The storm moved quickly, but it hit hard. Across New Jersey, live outage tracking showed well over 200,000 homes and businesses without power late Friday night, with FirstEnergy/JCP&L accounting for the bulk of reported outages.
The timing matters. The National Weather Service's Mount Holly office had warned Friday afternoon that scattered severe thunderstorms could produce locally damaging winds and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.
That makes power restoration more than a convenience issue. Homes without electricity may also be homes without air conditioning, refrigeration, medical-device charging, sump pumps, internet access, or working garage-door openers. Residents should check on elderly neighbors, people with medical needs, and families with small children.