Thousands In Ocean, Monmouth Without Power In Wake Of Strong Storm

(UPDATED, 9:30 p.m.) Residents whose homes lost power as a result of the powerful winds that brought down trees and wires throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties early Sunday were expected to have electricity restored by about midnight, Jersey Central Power & Light said.

The outage map maintained by First Energy, the parent company of JCP&L, showed a reduction in outages as of 9:30 p.m. with notations that most customers should have their power restored by midnight.

Wind gusts of up to 71 mph were recorded in Monmouth County; at Robert J. Miller Airpark in Berkeley Township in Ocean County, a maximum gust of 56 mph was recorded, according to the National Weather Service.

The downed wires and trees have caused road closures in some areas. Wall Township police reported Route 34 was closed at the Garden State Parkway in both directions; reports said the closure was due to downed wires. Route 34 reopened in the late afternoon Sunday.

In Brick Township, the winds brought down a traffic signal on Drum Point Road, according to a report on the Jersey Shore Scanner News Facebook page.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office reported New Hampshire Avenue was closed between Cedar Bridge Road and Route 88 because of a swaying pole and low wires, but reopened after a few hours.

And reports said Oak Ridge Parkway in Toms River was closed due to downed wires.