New Jersey residents braved strong winds Saturday, with gusts reaching up to 50 miles per hour on Monmouth County beaches.

Most people told News 12 New Jersey that they struggled to keep their hats on their heads and their cars in control amid the strong gusts. Some people reported street signs that had been knocked down and some minor damage caused by the high winds.

Windsurfers flocked to Sandy Hook beach to ride the powerful waves and winds. Aaron Wessner, of Hoboken, says the conditions were close to those of Maui, despite the cold temperatures.

"These are the best conditions," Wessner says. "People jump on planes to get conditions like this in other parts of the world."