Strong to high winds affected New Jersey during the day on the 12th. The strong winds started shortly after a cold frontal passage between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. EST and persisted through most of the day. Peak wind gusts averaged between 50 and 60 mph and knocked down numerous tree limbs, weak trees and power lines. Signs were knocked down, garbage cans blown around and bird feeders and toys tossed. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority banned motorcycles and car pulled trailers. About 86,000 homes and businesses lost power in the state with the strongest winds and most damage in the central and northern parts of the state.
In Morris County, one person was injured after a fallen tree fell down and blocked a southbound lane of Interstate 287 near Harding. The southbound lane was blocked again near exit 42 after a 100 foot tree came down. In Denville, Morris Catholic High School was evacuated after foam and asphalt was blown off the gym's roof. The school was also closed the next day. Downed trees caused sections of several major roadways to be closed in the county including New Jersey State Route 53 in Parsippany, New Jersey State Route 10 in Roxbury and U.S. Route 46 in Mine Hill. A couple of parked vehicles were damaged by downed limbs at the Morris Street Jersey Transit Train Station.
In Somerset County, morning traffic was disrupted after a downed pole closed a westbound lane of U.,S. Route 22. Farther to the west, a downed tree caused the closure of all lanes near the Hunterdon County border. All southbound lanes of Interstate 287 were closed during the late afternoon after a large tree fell on the roadway. Vehicles were damaged by downed trees in Bridgewater. In Hunterdon County, three quarters of Franklin Township lost power. In Middlesex County, a large downed tree limb damaged three vehicles in New Brunswick. In Highland Park, a downed tree caused the closure of an intersection. Another downed tree damaged a home.
In Monmouth County, a downed pole closed New Jersey State Route 34 in both directions in Wall Township. The pole also damaged the Sterns Trucking Building. In Asbury Park, late in the morning the high wind blew off a piece of the roof of a metal dipping business on First Avenue. Utility poles were split by the debris. Scaffolding broke away from a twelve story building on Deal Lake Drive. In Ocean County, a driver suffered a head injury at Mile Marker 86 on the Garden State when a tree fell on the parkway. Two other vehicles were also struck by the debris. In Toms River alone, there were about thirty weather related emergency responses between 6 a.m. EST and Noon EST. Ocean County Park in Lakewood was closed because of downed trees.
In Mercer County, the high winds were a factor in fueling a fire that consumed two dwellings in Trenton on South Olden Avenue. Five people were left homeless. The fire was started by downed wires. Elsewhere in Trenton, roof pieces of an abandoned building (old Roebling Steel Site) were torn away as were some shingles. Hamilton Avenue was closed because of wind debris from New Jersey State Route 129 to Clark Street. In Hopewell Township, Carter Avenue was closed for three days after about half a dozen poles were snapped. A man was trapped within his dump truck until the power was cut off. In Atlantic County, Richard Stockton College was closed through the 12th because of the lack of power. A downed tree damaged a vehicle in Egg Harbor Township.
Peak wind gusts included 69 mph at the High Point Monument in Sussex County, 61 mph in Parsippany (Morris County), 59 mph in Keansburg (Monmouth County), 58 mph in Harvey Cedars (Ocean County), the Atlantic City Marina (Atlantic County) and Sea Girt (Monmouth County), 57 mph in Barnegat (Ocean County), 54 mph at the Atlantic City International Airport in Atlantic County, 53 mph in Kingwood (Hunterdon County), 52 mph in Chatsworth and Lumberton (both Burlington County), 51 mph in Somerville (Somerset County), Millville (Cumberland County), Trenton (Mercer County), Mullica (Gloucester County) and Woodstown (Salem County) and 50 mph in Deans (Middlesex County) and Blue Anchor (Camden County).
The strong and high winds were caused by the pressure difference between an intensifying low pressure system that moved through the lower Saint Lawrence River Valley, northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes and an approaching high pressure system from the lower Mississippi Valley. The winds increased after a cold front moved through the state between 4 a.m. EST and 6 a.m. EST on the morning of the 12th and slowly subsided that night.

Strong Wind in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong Wind in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.10M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.10M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.10M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.10M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.10M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 46.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 45.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 45.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 47.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong Wind in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 450.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 12-FEB-09 11:00:00 to 12-FEB-09 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet