A fast-moving storm swept through New York City and parts of New Jersey on Friday, July 25th, knocking out power to thousands and bringing down trees as extreme heat gripped the region.
At the height of the storm, nearly 21,000 Con Edison customers lost electricity across Staten Island and Brooklyn. The utility company deployed crews throughout the night, and by Saturday morning, power had been restored to the majority of those affected. Around 255 Staten Island customers remain without service but are expected to be reconnected later in the day. In Brooklyn, approximately 2,800 customers were initially concerned, with fewer than 600 still awaiting restoration by early Saturday.
The storm followed an intense heat wave that drove feels-like temperatures near 110 degrees in parts of New Jersey. As a cold front moved in, it triggered thunderstorms across the metro area, with the most intense conditions striking between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Newark and Staten Island recorded wind gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
Fallen trees and branches caused significant damage across the region. In Staten Island, trees were down from St. George to Bay Terrace. A tree blocked a street in Flushing, Queens, while in Springfield, New Jersey, one crashed into a home. NJ Transit suspended Morris and Essex Line service after branches fell on overhead wires.
Air travel faced significant disruptions. JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports each experienced ground stops during the storm, resulting in delays of at least 90 minutes and hundreds of flight disruptions. LaGuardia Airport alone saw nearly 90 cancellations.
Con Edison urged residents to steer clear of downed wires, noting they may be live and pose a safety risk, while assuring the public that any personnel on-site would carry proper company identification.
Although the storm offered brief relief from the heat, meteorologists predicted the return of high humidity and scattered storms by Sunday. Another round of heat advisories is possible early next week, as temperatures are expected to remain near 90 degrees with the heat index going as high as 107.
