Severe thunderstorms knock out power to many in South Jersey

Thunderstorms that rumbled across southern and central New Jersey are leaving power outages in their wake.

There are nearly 8,300 customers without power, mainly in Atlantic and Gloucester counties.

Workers have repaired a sinkhole on the Garden State Parkway in Little Egg Harbor Township. 

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for most of the state because rivers and streams are swollen from earlier storms.

In New Jersey, officials opened the soaked state’s Emergency Operations Center on Thursday morning to monitor the storm’s progress.

Play was suspended at the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club outside Philadelphia less than two hours after the start of the first round. Ian Poulter held the lead with three birdies in three holes as fans scurried toward the merchandize tents to wait out the storm.