Landslides, Flooding Prompt NJ Emergency Declaration

NEW JERSEY - Heavy downpours and ferocious winds during the weekend’s thunderstorms wreaked havoc across the Garden State, prompting power outages, road closures, flooding and even a landslide. A state of emergency has been declared as more severe weather is in the forecast this week, forecasters said.

The northwest region of the state saw some of the worst impacts. In Knowlton, a landslide closed Route 46 in both directions east of Ramseyburg Road, county officials said. At least two families were displaced from homes in Warren County due to storm damage, the Red Cross of New Jersey said.

A three-story building partially collapsed on Sunday afternoon in Union County with reports of people possibly trapped inside, according to firefighters.

In nearby Bucks County, Pennsylvania, flash flooding Saturday afternoon killed at least five, with another two children missing, officials said. Read more: Fatal Bucks Co. Flooding: Death Toll Rises To 5

Flooded streets, destroyed roadways and downed power lines in other parts of the Garden State were reported as Gov. Phil Murphy issued a state of emergency Sunday afternoon. 63,000 New Jersey JCP&L customers alone were affected by the storm Sunday morning, according to JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig. Just over 1,100 were still in the dark as of Monday; another 737 PSE&G customers were also out of service Monday morning.

We have approx. 200 @JCP_L and contractor personnel engaged in the restoration efforts in northern NJ alone.

The biggest obstacle facing our crews today is access to some of the damage locations. Flooding is ongoing and where waters have subsided, roads are washed out. pic.twitter.com/KUMXND2KO4
— Chris Hoenig (@Chris_Hoenig) July 16, 2023

Warren County saw the highest rainfall totals over the weekend according to the National Weather Service, with over 4.5 inches of rainfall in Columbia as of Sunday afternoon. Parts of Somerset, Ocean, Morris and Atlantic all saw over 3 inches of rainfall.

Monday is expected to see morning fog and sunny - albeit hazy - afternoon skies with temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s. Haze from the Canadian wildfires are set to return, with air quality indices forecasted to hit “moderate” levels around 60 AQI.

Risky AQI, which may pose a hazard for people who are sensitive to air pollution, begins at values above 50.

As of Monday morning, 16 New Jersey counties are under a dense fog advisory until 11 a.m. The affected counties are:

• Monmouth
• Burlington
• Ocean
• Atlantic
• Sussex
• Warren
• Morris
• Hunterdon
• Somerset
• Middlesex
• Mercer
• Salem
• Gloucester
• Camden
• Cumberland
• Cape May

“Hazardous driving conditions [are possible] due to low visibility,” the weather service said. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Warren County is also under a flood warning until 4 p.m. Monday after between 2 and 4 inches of rainfall already fell on Sunday, the weather service said.

“Excessive runoff from rainfall Sunday morning is resulting in rising streams,” the weather service said. “Flooding is already occurring in the warned area.”

Another thunderstorm is expected to hit the state Tuesday afternoon, with between a tenth and quarter of an inch of precipitation expected, forecasters said.

Here’s the latest forecast around New Jersey, per the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Monday: Widespread haze after 8am. Areas of fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 88. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Widespread haze. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 3 to 5 mph.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Widespread haze before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind around 6 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

South Jersey

Monday: Widespread dense fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.