Heavy thunderstorms killed several people and caused widespread damage in New Jersey overnight ahead of the holiday weekend, authorities said, as storms walloped the Northeast.

Deaths were reported after severe thunderstorms hit parts of New Jersey on Thursday evening."I have been briefed on the severe thunderstorm and heavy winds that hit Central Jersey this evening and resulted in fatalities.

Mother Nature could be sending out some fireworks of her own right on the eve of July 4th. That's because severe weather will likely revisit the Northeast on Thursday, July 3, after an earlier round of potent storms on Tuesday,