By: Richard L. Smith
North Jersey residents are waking up to a challenging Thursday morning following a night of torrential weather that wreaked havoc across the region.
The storms brought intense winds, leading to significant damage, including fallen trees and disrupted power lines, which impacted several New Jersey counties.
Although the severe weather has passed, its effects linger. Many large, mature trees have snapped and crashed onto roads, cars, and homes.
This has left debris and tree limbs scattered across roadways and potentially tangled with power lines, which is expected to complicate this morning's commute.
As cleanup crews work diligently to clear the debris and restore power, local authorities advise residents to plan for delays and consider starting their commutes earlier.
Current road closures and ongoing cleanup efforts are expected to disrupt typical traffic patterns.
The National Weather Service said the weather outlook for today shows a promise of improvement. Temperatures in Newark will start at a cooler 69 degrees, a slight relief from Wednesday's 75 degrees.
The day will see cloudy conditions through mid-morning, followed by gradual clearing, with highs reaching near 87 degrees and a gentle west wind at 6 to 8 mph.
NWS forecasters said tonight is forecasted to be mostly clear, with a low of around 65 degrees.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about the latest traffic updates and exercise caution during the cleanup.