A severe thunderstorm watch is now in effect for Monmouth and Ocean counties.
UPDATE: Power outages across Ocean and Monmouth counties
Jersey Central Power & Light was reporting Tuesday night that 12,174 homes and businesses were without electricity in Ocean County — about 5% of all customers in Ocean. Most of these customers affected are in the northern and western county, including Point Pleasant, Brick, Lakewood, Jackson and Plumsted.
In Monmouth County, 842 customers were without power — less than 1% of all customers. Most of the customers affected are in western Monmouth County, such as in Colts Neck, Millstone Manalapan and Upper Freehold, although there were also outages in Long Branch, Oceanport and Ocean Township.
A tornado warning has been issued for Monmouth and Ocean counties by the National Weather Service in Mount Holly until 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.
This includes northern Ocean County and southwestern Monmouth County. Northeastern Burlington County is also at risk, in southern New Jersey.
At 6:41 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 16 miles west of Toms River, moving east at 20 mph. Radar indicates rotation. The conditions were detected over the Woodruff section of Plumsted.
Locations of possible impact include Toms River, Lakewood, Jackson, Lakehurst, Cassville, Adelphia, Vista Center, Leisure Village, Woodruff, Six Flags Great Adventure, Pleasant Plains, Cedar Glen West, Freehold Acres, Jacksons Mills, Leisure Village East, Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park, West Freehold, Holiday City-Berkeley, Leisure Knoll, and New Egypt.
The weather service urges those in the path of this warning to take cover. Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in amobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. For your protection. move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, the weather service advises.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways, the weather service warned.
A severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for the region.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at [email protected].
