Gusty west to northwest winds affected higher terrain and coastal locations of New Jersey from the afternoon of the 22nd into the afternoon of the 23rd. Peak wind gusts averaged around 50 mph. The strong winds began after a cold frontal passage during the afternoon of the 22nd. Most of the peak wind gusts occurred during the evening of the 22nd into the early morning of the 23rd. Winds did not diminish until the evening of the 23rd.
The strong winds created havoc for fire fighters and emergency responders battling a blaze at the Environmental Protection Agency facility in Edison (Middlesex County) on the 23rd. The fire badly damaged two trailers at the complex. The wind tossed flaming debris throughout the complex. Two fire fighters were injured.
Peak wind gusts included 53 mph in Wantage (Sussex County), 52 mph in High Point (Sussex County), 51 mph in Sandy Hook (Monmouth County) and 50 mph in Cape May (Cape May County).
The strong winds were caused by the pressure difference between an intensifying low pressure system as it moved from the Great Lakes and through the Canadian Maritimes and a strong high pressure system that was building east from the Upper Mississippi Valley.
While there were a couple of wind events during the month of February, there was not much precipitation in New Jersey. It was the driest February on record at both the Atlantic City International Airport (0.68 inches) and Trenton (0.64 inches).  On a statewide average, it was also the driest February on record dating back to 1895. The statewide average precipitation of 0.64 inches was only about 20 percent of the normal February precipitation.

Strong Wind in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 46.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Strong Wind in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Strong Wind in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Strong Wind in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong Wind in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-09 14:00:00 to 23-FEB-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet