Severe thunderstorms swept across New Jersey Thursday, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses and raising concerns among the state's agricultural producers. Torrential rainfall, flash flood warnings, and wind gusts of up to 65 mph battered the region, compounding worries about crop damage, soil erosion, and rural infrastructure.

By 3 p.m. Thursday, more than 6,000 customers were without electricity, with PSE&G reporting the largest share at 5,041 outages. JCP&L followed with 1,116 outages, and Atlantic City Electric reported 94. While Rockland Electric showed no outages, the cumulative effect has been significant across central and northern farming counties.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a statewide flood watch effective until 6 a.m. Friday, underscoring the risk of flash flooding in low-lying and agricultural zones. The service rated Thursday's storms as having a "moderate risk (level 3 out of 4)" for flash flooding. Rainfall amounts between 1 to 3 inches were recorded, with localized totals potentially reaching 5 to 7 inches. Rainfall rates exceeded 2 inches per hour, overwhelming drainage systems in both urban and rural agricultural lands.

"This type of storm activity can set back an entire growing season," said a New Jersey extension agronomist. "Excess moisture not only increases the risk of disease in crops but also hampers machinery access and delays harvest."

The storm surge has put particular pressure on vegetable and fruit growers, who are at critical stages of their harvest cycle. Saturated soils threaten root crops and can lead to rot and fungal outbreaks. Meanwhile, wind damage may have already impacted cornfields, orchards, and greenhouse structures.

New Jersey remains under a state of emergency due to flooding concerns, with numerous road closures reported in rural farming communities, disrupting supply chains for perishable goods and livestock feed deliveries. Meteorologists expect continued thunderstorms into late Thursday night, driven by a slow-moving cold front.

Farmers are urged to monitor field conditions closely, use real-time weather alerts, and report storm damage to local USDA service centers. The situation could lead to emergency declarations and eligibility for crop insurance or disaster assistance programs if losses are confirmed.

With climate volatility increasing, agricultural stakeholders are calling for greater investment in resilient infrastructure, such as improved drainage systems, windbreaks, and precision weather forecasting tools.