Thousands of people across New Jersey woke up without power today. News 12's Tony Caputo is checking on downed tree and and power lines that are leaving many in the cold and dark. 

One trouble spot is on North Cooks Bridge Road in Jackson where several utility poles got pulled down.

At its worst about 125,000 JCP&L customers were without power but solid work helped many get back on line much faster than expected. "So we restored about 85% majority of those customers in just over 12 hours. Statewide, most of the outages are in Central in New Jersey. Southern Monmouth County and Ocean County are the hardest hit," says JCP&L Spokesperson Chris Hoenig.

Hoenig adds that crews are working hard to get the rest of the outages fixed.

JCP&L Storm Center Map Utility companies warns residents to never drive over downed power lines, advising to always assume they are live. If a vehicle contacts a live line, individuals should remain calm, call for help, and stay inside the vehicle. Residents who are affected by the outages are encouraged to report them to their specific utility company either by phone or through the company's online portal.