Weather Clears After Tropical Storm Henri Churns Through Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — After Tropical Storm Henri was downgraded to a Tropical Depression, leaving behind some sogginess on Monday, the National Weather Service predicts skies to be sunny, with spots of clouds here and there, through Friday.

The National Weather Service reported on Monday that Henri had weakened in terms of its initial impact as a tropical storm - and in some places a hurricane - to a Tropical Depression.

Before departing Chatham though, Henri left some of its wrath behind, the National Weather Service’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reporting that the Passaic River near Chatham was at the near flood stage capacity as of Monday.

When a river rises 6 feet, it’s considered to have reached the flood stage.

According to the State of New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection Water Monitoring & Standards, which has been tabulating rainfall totals, it was reported near the Passaic River in Chatham from Saturday through late afternoon Monday, there had been 5.20 inches of rain in total. From Sunday through late afternoon Monday, 2.74 inches of rainfall accumulated. During the daytime on Monday at the Passaic River near Chatham, there was .21 inches of rain accounted for.

As of Monday morning at 4 a.m., the Passaic was at 5.4 feet, according to the NOAA hydrographic charts for the Chatham area; and is expected to rise up to its highest of 5.6 feet by late Tuesday afternoon, before it starts to diminish out of the near flood stage.

Chatham Borough provided an infographic for residents from New Jersey’s Office of Emergency Management about flooding over the past weekend, explaining about the importance of understanding water depth and advocating for the motto, “When flooded, turn around, don’t drown."

The infographic explains that moving water up to six inches in depth can knock down and swiftly transport an adult away, with water up to one feet sweeping away a small car and two feet doing the same thing for vehicles up to a van or truck size.

A Flood Warning, the infographic clarified, is a National Weather Service term explaining that flooding is imminent or in process, with some roads likely to flood; and that people should never drive through flooded areas. In these case, people should instead head to higher ground.

A Flood Watch on the other hand, means that flooding is possible; and people in an area with this watch, should follow their local weather and possibly, start looking for higher ground.

There were a handful of Chatham Borough residents without JCP&L service on Monday morning, with all power restored by Monday afternoon. Chatham Township outages rose to about 800 early Monday afternoon, dropping to 400 and then about only five residents by late Monday afternoon. Click here for more information about power outages and JCP&L’s restoration process.

As Henri fades away, it leaves behind the possibility that there could be up to a tenth of an inch of rain before Tuesday, perhaps higher if there are thunderstorms.

Sunny skies are predicted to return to Chatham for Tuesday through Friday, which can help to dry up conditions slightly, with a chance of clouds here and there, for a high of 89 degrees on Tuesday, 91 on Wednesday, about 91 on Thursday and close to a high of 86 on Friday.

The National Weather Service forecasts that there could be a chance of rain showers again this coming Saturday.

Editor's Note: Article updated at 5:09 p.m. on Monday Aug. 23, from its original on Monday Aug. 23 at 11 a.m., to reflect changing weather conditions in the Chathams and power outages in Chatham Township.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.