Severe Storms Making for a Messy Friday

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for much of the state and there are already reports of the storms causing damage by flooding and even lightning strikes. 

The New Jersey State Police sent out a message warning drivers about the possibility of flash flooding and to use caution on the roads. There have also been reports of lightning striking a building at the Atlantic City International Airport as well as Jackson Liberty High School among others. 

JCP&L is reporting power outages across the area with the highest concentrations in Toms River and Barnegat. There are close to 4,000 outages reported in Barnegat and just over 1,300 reported in Toms River. Berkeley Township and Brick Township are both at just over 100 outages so far this storm. 

The severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for northern Ocean and southwestern Monmouth counties until 3:30 p.m. There is also a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the state including Monmouth, Ocean, Camden and coastal Atlantic and Cape May counties until 9 p.m. 

Stay with Patch for more information as the storm develops.