A strong cold front associated with a low pressure system moving through New York State swept across the area during the late evening hours of April 2nd and early morning hours of April 3rd, accompanied by thunderstorms, very strong convectively driven winds, and small hail. As colder air behind this front drained south, precipitation changed to snow, with up to three inches falling in the higher elevations of northwest New Jersey and lesser amounts in isolated spots through most of New Jersey. The parent low pressure system then quickly intensified as it continued to move northeast away from the area. The gradient between this low pressure system and incoming high pressure produced strong winds gusting over 60 MPH in some localities from late overnight through the morning hours of April 3rd. Some reported peak wind gusts included: 52 MPH at Atlantic City International Airport at 0651EST (Atlantic County), 60 MPH at South Jersey Regional Airport at 0822EST (Burlington County), 48 MPH near Atsion at 0610EST (Camden County), 63 MPH in Cape May at 0757EST (Cape May County), 54 MPH at Millville Municipal Airport at 0757EST (Cumberland County), 56 MPH near Turnersville at 0405EST (Gloucester County), 46 MPH near Frenchtown at 1040EST (Hunterdon County), 51 MPH at Mercer County Airport at 0605EST (Mercer County), 57 MPH near Tottenville at 0639EST (Middlesex County), 71 MPH near Windsor at 0020EST (Monmouth County), 45 MPH near Livingston at 0526EST (Morris County), 64 MPH near Beach Haven at 0547EST (Ocean County), 47 MPH near Beckett at 2335EST (Salem County), 58 MPH near Bridgewater at 1032EST (Somerset County), 58 MPH in High Point at 1100EST (Sussex County), and 44 MPH near Alpha at 1045EST (Warren County).  Some snowfall measurements included:  0.3 inches in Holland Township (Hunterdon County), 0.3 inches in Jefferson Township (Morris County), and 2.7 inches in Highland Lakes (Sussex County). Thousands were left without power across the state including about three thousand in Cape May County. 81,000 were without power across the state.

High Wind in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:42:00 to 03-APR-16 05:42:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong gradient winds following the passage of a strong cold front produced a wind gust of 62 MPH near New Gretna at 0542EST on the 3rd.

High Wind in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:50:00 to 03-APR-16 05:50:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong gradient winds following the passage of a strong cold front produced a wind gust of 61 MPH near Bass River State Park at 0550EST on the 3rd.

High Wind in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 06:23:00 to 03-APR-16 06:23:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

Strong gradient winds over the area following the passage of a strong cold front produced a wind gust of 59 MPH near Jobstown at 0623EST.

High Wind in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 07:38:00 to 03-APR-16 07:38:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong gradient winds following the passage of a strong cold front snapped a tree in Readington, which then snapped a power pole.

High Wind in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 07:57:00 to 03-APR-16 07:57:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: COOP Observer

Strong gradient winds following the passage of a strong cold front produced a wind gust of 63 MPH in Cape May at 0758EST.

High Wind in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 09:48:00 to 03-APR-16 09:48:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

Strong gradient winds following the passage of a strong cold front produced a wind gust of 58 MPH at Maxfield Field in Lakehurst at 0948EST.

High Wind in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 10:32:00 to 03-APR-16 10:32:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong gradient winds following the passage of a strong cold front produced a wind gust of 58 MPH near Bridgewater at 1032EST. Several trees were also downed in Bernards twp with wires were reported down in Bedminster Twp.

High Wind in NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 11:16:00 to 03-APR-16 11:16:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Strong gradient winds following the passage of a strong cold front blew down a tree onto Kings Highway.

High Wind in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 08:00:00 to 03-APR-16 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A tree fell on a house in Middletown. Another tree came down in Neptune leading to the closure of route 33.

High Wind in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:00:00 to 03-APR-16 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Trees down in Linwood due to high winds.

High Wind in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:00:00 to 03-APR-16 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Downed trees and power lines due to high winds. A church caught fire in Millville due to the downed and arching power lines.

High Wind in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:00:00 to 03-APR-16 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Trees down due to high winds on Park Avenue and Lakeview Drive in Collingswood. A tree also came down in Cherry Hill.

High Wind in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:00:00 to 03-APR-16 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Numerous reports of downed trees and wires throughout the county due to high winds.

High Wind in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:00:00 to 03-APR-16 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Numerous trees and wires were reported down across Warren county due to high winds.

High Wind in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 03-APR-16 05:00:00 to 03-APR-16 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Numerous trees and wires were reported down across Morris County due to high winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 22:35:00 to 02-APR-16 22:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: SHILOH
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A microburst wind event moved through Bridgeton and Hopewell Townships east of Shiloh during the late evening hours on April 2nd.  Damage began on Shoemaker Lane at the intersection of Barretts Run Road in Hopewell.   The damage was most concentrated on the western end of Shoemaker Lane...with numerous trees sheared off and some uprooted.  Some trees were in excess of 2 feet in diameter.  There was also substantial damage to a metal garage on Shoemaker Lane.  The damage ended near the Walmart on Route 77 in Bridgeton...where several power poles and trees were felled.  There was also damage to roof shingles and flashing along the 1000 foot wide path.  Estimated peak wind speeds, based mainly on tree damage, was estimated at 85 MPH by a NWS team which surveyed the damage, with assistance from the Cumberland County Office of Emergency Management.  No injuries or deaths were reported.

Hail in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 22:55:00 to 02-APR-16 22:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWPORT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front moving across the area during the late evening hours on the 2nd produced one inch hail in Newport.

Thunderstorm Wind in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 22:55:00 to 02-APR-16 22:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWPORT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front moving across the area during the late evening hours on the 2nd produced wind gusts strong enough to knock down large tree branches in Newport.

Hail in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 23:00:00 to 02-APR-16 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILLIAMSTOWN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front moving across the area during the early morning hours on the 3rd produced three-quarter inch hail in Williamstown.

Hail in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 23:06:00 to 02-APR-16 23:06:00 (EST-5)
Location: LAWRENCEVILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front moving across the area during the early overnight hours on the 3rd produced three-quarter inch hail in Lawrence Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 23:12:00 to 02-APR-16 23:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: RARITAN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A microburst produced wind gusts up to 65 MPH, causing sporadic damage along a line from Raritan southeast through southern Manville, ending in Franklin Township northeast of Blackwells Mills.  Saint Ann school in Raritan experienced some roof damage, and two commercial dumpsters were blown over.  In Franklin Township, there was extensive tree and pole damage in the vicinity of Weston Canal Road near I-287.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 23:20:00 to 02-APR-16 23:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOUTH DENNIS
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front moving across the area during the  early morning hours on the 3rd produced a measured wind gust of 71 MPH in Dennisville at 0020EST.  Numerous trees were blown down, with roofing shingles blown off many homes.

Thunderstorm Wind in OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 23:45:00 to 02-APR-16 23:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: RIVIERA BEACH
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Downed wires on route 34 near the Garden State Parkway. Route 34 was closed for a time as a result.

Thunderstorm Wind in OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 23:48:00 to 02-APR-16 23:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: PT PLEASANT BEACH
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front moving across the area during the early morning hours on the 3rd produced a wind gust of 58 MPH at Point Pleasant Beach.

Thunderstorm Wind in OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 02-APR-16 23:50:00 to 02-APR-16 23:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: LAURELTON
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front moving across the area during the early morning hours on the 3rd produced a wind gust of 59 MPH in Brick Township. The winds also brought down a traffic light.