A line of strong thunderstorms nearly the length of the state swiftly dropped temperatures from Sussex County to the Jersey Shore by nearly 30 degrees tonight, ending several days of sweltering weather. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph felled trees and power lines, closed roads, but also ushered in cooler temperatures.

In Wall Township, for example, cool air with the storms lowered the temperature from 98 degrees to 70 degrees, weather officials reported.

It was a different story before the storm. For the second straight day, Newark was hit with record-breaking temperatures. Thermometers rose to 101 degrees at 1:19 p.m., beating the 2008 mark of 99 degrees.

And with three straight days of 90-plus degree heat, the Newark area was officially in a heat wave, said Lauren Nash, of the National Weather Service.

The city last saw a 100-degree day on June 19, 1994, which also fell short of the all-time high of 105 in 1993. A normal high for today was 78.

(Source: NJ Star Ledger / TLS-MPIP)