WEATHER UPDATE: 'Potent' Storm Topples Trees, Causes Power Outages As More Wind Expected Overnight

A potent wind and thunderstorm toppled trees and caused power outages in New Jersey on Wednesday, and more wind was considered a threat overnight.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook remained in effect as more wind gusts were expected to pass through the region.

On Wednesday:

• More than 400 homes were without power in South Brunswick and fallen trees were reported in the area.
• All traffic lights on Route 1 in South Brunswick, south of New Road, were out.
• A fallen tree blocked at least one street in Newark.
• More than 4,000 New Jersey residents were without power, including about 1,300 in Middlesex County, 400 in Monmouth County and 700 in Somerset.

Temperatures are then supposed to dip below freezing on Thursday night.

After a period of warmth in the Northeast last week, a complete reversal in the weather pattern will then move in this week, according to an AccuWeather release.

This weather pattern will move across the area after a period of rain and severe storms impact the mid-Atlantic on Weather.

AccuWeather.com Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok said a southward dip in the jet stream will develop and will be centered across the Great Lakes much of the time during the latter part of the month.

AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde said in the release: “The 5- to 10-degree above-average temperatures will turn the other direction averaging 5-10 degrees below average for the next 7-10 days.”

Brisk northwest winds will accompany the cooler air. AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures will dip into the 30s at times.

“The pattern, which is likely to linger into the first part of May, could also bring a round or two of frost,” Pastelok said in the release.

Temperatures will remain above freezing during the overnights to prevent frost along the Interstate-95 corridor from Washington to Boston.

The below-freezing temperatures are not uncommon for this time of the year. Locations from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast tend to observe below-freezing nights into the middle of May.

Scattered showers will also rotate over the course of the week. Some wet snowflakes may mix in across some locations during the overnight hours, according to AccuWeather.