Strong northwest winds behind a departing low pressure system produced wind gusts of around 50 mph in New Jersey from the morning into the early evening of the 9th. In addition to downing weak trees, tree limbs and wires, the strong winds enhanced the spread of wildfires due to the recent dry weather and low relative humidity levels that day.
Peak wind gusts included 55 mph in Stewartsville (Warren County), 54 mph in Sandy Hook (Monmouth County), 52 mph at the Cape May Ferry Terminal (Cape May County) and Brick (Ocean County), 50 mph in Barnegat Light (Ocean County), 49 mph in Tuckerton (Ocean County), 48 mph in Wantage (Sussex County), 47 mph in Monmouth Beach (Monmouth County) and Seaside Heights (Ocean County), 46 mph in Burlington (Burlington County), Lakehurst (Ocean County) and Belmar (Monmouth County), 45 mph Trenton (Mercer County) and Morristown (Morris County), 44 mph at the Atlantic City International Airport (Atlantic County), Deans (Middlesex County), Millville (Cumberland County) and Cape May (Cape May County) and 43 mph in Pittstown (Hunterdon County).
The strong winds were caused by the pressure difference between a low pressure system moving northeast through the Saint Lawrence Valley and a high pressure system building into the Northern Plains. The pressure difference (gradient) became weaker that evening as the strong winds ceased.

Strong Wind in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 48.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 42.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 47.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Strong Wind in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 45.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Strong Wind in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Strong Wind in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Strong Wind in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 41.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Strong Wind in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Strong Wind in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 09-APR-12 07:00:00 to 09-APR-12 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet