Storms cause damage across Tri-State Area as parts of region see record heat
It was an extremely active day for weather across the Tri-State Area on Friday, with record-breaking heat and severe thunderstorms.
The storms were fueled, in part, by highs that ranged from the upper 90s to lower 100s in many locations. Following the stifling temperatures came another round of prolific storms.
Thousands impacted by Staten Island power outage
Staten Island was hit especially hard. During the height of the storm, more than 20,000 homes across the borough were without power.
Some stores had to close early after losing power for hours. Bagel Stop Deli & Grill was pitch black inside.
"It was raining, and then all of a sudden it was windy, and it was blowing everything," worker Usman Khan said.
Normally a 24-hour operation, they decided to close up shop at sundown. In the meantime, it was cash only, and things were just not selling fast enough.
"Things are almost getting melted," Khan said.
Friday's storm split trees in half and uprooted some. One toppled onto the railing at the Ocean Beach boardwalk on Staten Island.
"People end up running to their cars, running, grabbing their stuff. Stuff was flying," Staten Island resident Jolanta Kuklinska said.
One family told CBS News New York they saw the storm heading towards them but couldn't move fast enough to get away, the wind and sand pelting their bodies.
"We try to go towards the bushes to hide ourselves. The bushes were even worse because the trees and branches were coming down really heavy. We ended up going to the car and my car was under the tree," Kuklinska said.
They say it was chaotic, ominous and frightening.
"It was like dark, and we basically didn't see anything. It was coming from the land and going forward to the water. It was terrible," Staten Island resident Anna Mazewski said.
Timmy Kwong shared surveillance video of a tree crashing down at Hylan Boulevard and Kensington Avenue after a bout with heavy winds. It missed his vehicle, but he says debris cracked his windshield. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
Lightning strikes home in Plainfield, New Jersey
In New Jersey, a lightning strike set a house on fire in Plainfield. Smoke could be seen shooting through the roof of the home on Mayfair Way. Firefighters quickly responded and extinguished the fire.
The family was outside when the strike happened, so no one was hurt.
Neighbors say it sounded like an explosion.
"I was working in my office, and I heard the loud boom of thunder, very loud. Like, it shook me," neighbor Julia Kerr said. "I ran out and realized that lightning had struck the house across the street from us, and it was smoldering all over the rooftop."
The home has now been condemned due to fire and water damage.
Meanwhile, NJ Transit was dealing with delays on the Morris and Essex lines after a tree fell on wires above tracks.
Record highs across Tri-State Area
The hottest temperature in the area was recorded in Newark, New Jersey, where the high hit 100, beating out the previous record of 99.
The temperature in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was 94 degrees, also just 1 degree higher than the previous record.
At LaGuardia Airport, the high reached 99 degrees, breaking the previous record of 97.
Overnight, the muggy conditions will continue to linger, as lows will range from the upper 60s to mid 70s. As for Saturday, a much quieter day can be expected, with lower humidity, cooler temps that only reach the mid to upper 80s, and a mix of sun and clouds.
Energy saving tips
Con Edison is out with these tips for New Yorkers to conserve electricity and avoid brownouts as the city deals with the extreme heat.
- Limit the use of air conditioners by raising the set point to a comfortable temperature, not necessarily the coolest.
- Dim the lights or turn them off if you don't need them, especially in unoccupied rooms.
- Unplug nonessential electronics. Even a coffee maker draws power when plugged in and not in use.
- Avoid doing laundry and running dishwashers since these appliances draw a lot of power.
Stick with our First Alert Weather Team for the latest forecast, live radar and weather alerts.
