High Wind Warning in parts of New Jersey raises concerns about power outages
WEEHAWKEN, N.J. -- Several counties along the Jersey Shore are under a High Wind Warning from Tuesday through Wednesday morning.
Port Authority placed a 35 mph speed limit restriction on the Bayonne Bridge due to high winds, and all tractor trailers, tandem trailers and empty box trucks are banned from the bridge.
Watch Vanessa Murdock's live report
Power outages reported across New Jersey
As of 9:20 p.m. PSE&G NJ was reporting nearly 20,000 customers were without power, and over 6,000 JCP&L customers lost service, as well.
Christopher Hoenig from JCP&L told CBS New York most of their outages were in northern New Jersey, driven by high winds and toppled trees.
Watch our interview with Hoenig
Hoenig said the utility has called in contractors and crews from FirstEnergy to nearly double their personnel to more than 700 line workers engaged in restoration.
As far as when customers can expect service to be restored, Hoenig said, "How Mother Nature handles things over the next five hours, six hours, that's really gonna determine just how long these outages could extend."
Hoenig advised New Jersey residents to make sure they're prepared at home with batteries for flashlights, and for those who are out and about, avoid the floodwaters and stay away from downed power lines.
Fierce winds whip waters across New Jersey
Fierce winds rake across the mighty Hudson, turn water white and send it crashing against the bulkhead.
"It's terrible. This wind is crazy ... I'm running back as we speak," one person said.
The Mobile Weather Lab stood firm despite winds howling above 40 mph, a task far more difficult for humans.
Andrew Onan stepped out to witness Mothers Nature's wrath firsthand.
"This is just a normal day for us in Paulus Hook," he said.
A tree knocked over by the gusts fell onto a power line in South Brunswick, knocking out power to more than a dozen customers. Across Middlesex county, thousands were without power Tuesday night.
In Hoboken, the normally bustling Sinatra Park seemed abandoned. One soul stopped to share his thoughts about the storm.
"I'm gonna go home and cook dinner and pray that my apartment that I moved into recently isn't in a flood zone," Matt Taslitt said.
In North Bergen, several spots were drowned out and closed off. Inches of rain were just too much for the earth to swallow.
The excessive water was such a burden on the sewer in Piscataway, officials asked residents to refrain from running dishwashers and washing machines in hopes the system does not get overwhelmed.