High Wind — Union, New Jersey

2009-02-12 · Union, New Jersey

Event narrative

A tree snapped off and crashed through a car windshield on Route 22, near Robin Hood Lane, killing a 61-year-old female at approximately 0630EST.

Wider weather episode

An intense area of low pressure over the Eastern Great Lakes on the morning of February 12, tracked northeast and up into the Canadian Maritimes by evening. High winds developed near daybreak, right behind the cold front, and continued through the day. The strongest winds occurred during the morning and appeared to be associated with sharp pressure rises right behind the cold front.

There were about 30,000 power outages across northern New Jersey, two fatalities, and delays of up to 3 hours at Newark Liberty International airport.

The first death occurred at approximately 0630EST as a tree fell on a car on Route 22 in Mountainside, killing the driver, a 61-year-old female; the second death occurred at approximately 1338EST, when a large tree branch fell on a 61-year-old female in Newark.

The following are some peak wind gusts across northern New Jersey: Bergen County, 61 mph at North Arlington; Essex County, 60 mph at Newark; Hudson County, 56 mph at Jersey City; Passaic County, 48 mph at Clifton; and Union County, 53 mph at Union.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 154636. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.