Power outages, burning high-tension lines, and dozens of downed trees were reported across Cranford Friday night as severe thunderstorms with 60 mph winds swept through Union County.
Cranford, NJ – Severe thunderstorms packing wind gusts of up to 60 mph swept through Union County Friday evening, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers, toppling trees, and igniting high-tension power lines in Cranford.
According to the Cranford Police Department, the fast-moving storm brought torrential rain, damaging winds, and widespread storm damage throughout the township. Officials said numerous downed trees, broken limbs, and live power lines were reported as emergency crews responded across the community.
The storm contributed to widespread outages across the region. As of Friday evening, PSE&G reported 1,618 active outages affecting 72,626 customers across its New Jersey service territory.
Burning power lines reported on North Lehigh Avenue
Police said downed high-tension power lines on North Lehigh Avenue caught fire during the storm, prompting a response from PSE&G crews.
The Cranford Department of Public Works and utility crews were dispatched to multiple locations to clear fallen trees blocking roadways and address hazardous electrical conditions.
Because of the large number of emergency calls, police urged residents to reserve 911 and the department’s non-emergency line for urgent, time-sensitive incidents only.
Residents urged to report outages directly to PSE&G
Officials advised residents that power outages were occurring throughout Union County and asked customers to report outages directly to PSE&G while monitoring the utility’s outage map for restoration updates.
For non-emergency issues involving downed tree limbs that are not blocking roads and are not associated with live power lines, residents were asked to leave a message with the Cranford Department of Public Works hotline.
The severe weather follows a day of dangerous heat across New Jersey and comes as utility crews work to restore electricity ahead of the Independence Day holiday.
Key Points
- Severe thunderstorms with wind gusts up to 60 mph caused widespread damage in Cranford Friday night.
- High-tension power lines caught fire on North Lehigh Avenue, while downed trees and live wires were reported throughout the township.
- PSE&G reported 72,626 customers without power across its New Jersey service area as emergency crews responded to outages.
Photo: Generated Photo depicting storm scene, fire.
Related: Cranford, Union County, PSE&G, New Jersey Storms, Power Outage
