Gusty storms knock down trees, knock out power

With unexpected ferocity, a potent squall line ripped through the region around lunchtime Wednesday, knocking out power to more than 80,000 utility customers, toppling trees, and causing significant transportation delays.

A wind gust of 72 mph was reported in Cumberland County, N.J., said National Weather Service meteorologist Patrick O'Hara, and gusts of 50 to 65 mph were common elsewhere on both sides of the Delaware River.

The winds downed trees all over the region, with 27 of them in Haverford Township, Delaware County, alone, township emergency officials said.

About 62,000 Peco customers lost power, most of them in Delaware and Chester Counties, and PSE&G reported 19,600 outages in South Jersey, primarily in Burlington and Camden Counties.

Departures from Philadelphia International Airport were delayed for up to an hour during the afternoon, as severe weather affected the New York City and Newark airports.

Service was suspended on SEPTA's Chestnut Hill West and Trenton lines until late in the day due to downed wires, but the agency had not determined whether the problems were weather-related. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor service also was delayed.

Road closures were widespread. The storm brought several trees and power lines down in Moorestown, said Police Chief Lee R. Lieber.

Trees came down on Creek Road near Borton Landing Road and on a heavily traveled stretch of South Church Street between Route 38 and Fellowship Road.

At Camden County College's main campus in Blackwood, 10 to 15 trees came down, in some cases dragging power lines with them, said president Don Borden. The roof was torn off - "from one end to the other" - of Wilson Hall, an old multipurpose building with classrooms and administrative offices.

One tree that came down slammed into the side of Wilson, Borden said, causing more damage.

"The fact that nobody got hurt is just a godsend," he said. "Puts everything else firmly in perspective."

shawj@phillynews.com 215-854-2592

@julieshawphilly

Staff writer Jonathan Lai contributed to this article.