Flooding Closes Roads, Rivers Continue To Rise In Somerset County

Updated as of 5:35 p.m.

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A flood watch remains in effect in Somerset County as rivers rise and roads close.

Road Closures

• Two Bridges on Old York Road is closed between Branchburg and Bridgewater
• Black Point Road into Hillsborough
• Opie Rd between Farmsedge and Hillsborough Township
• River Road is closed at Riverside Drive in Hillsborough
• Griggstown Causeway in Montgomery
• Route 605 at Blue Spring Road in Montgomery

Flood Watch

The National Weather Service(NWS) issued the flood watch through 6 p.m. on Thursday due to additional rainfall amounts between 1 to 3 inches expected across the Somerset County area into Thursday.

"About two dozen of our river points are forecast to approach flood stage today into Thursday, with several exceeding flood stage. The rain will be heavy at times, with hourly rates reaching or exceeding an inch, with the more widespread and heaviest rain expected to fall this afternoon and early this evening," according to the NWS.

Local flash flooding is also possible during heavy rainfall periods. (See the full forecast below)

Excessive runoff may continue to cause rivers, creeks, and streams to rise through the end of the week even when the rain has ended, warned the NWS.

River Flooding

The Millstone River at Griggstown is at the Moderate Flood stage at 12.19 feet causing the Griggstown Causeway in Montgomery to be closed due to flooding.

The North Branch River at South Branch at the Branchburg and Bridgewater border is at the Minor Flood stage at 8.38 feet.

Other rivers such as the Raritan River in Manville and Bound Brook along with the Passaic River near Lord Stirling Park are projected to hit the Minor Flood stage or close to it by Thursday morning.

The Lamington (Black) River at Burnt Mills in Bedminster is also rising and has entered the Action Stage at 9.54 feet.

Take a look at the upcoming forecast:

Wednesday Night: Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then rain likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 39. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

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