Flash Floods Induce Heavy Cleanup, 3 Inches Of Rain In Cherry Hill

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Just before many Americans watched Fourth of July fireworks, South Jersey's skies offered another show. Flash floods pummeled the region Tuesday, with some of the greatest rainfall in Camden County and arguably the biggest messes.

The heaviest rain in the state fell over northern Camden and western Burlington counties, with estimates of up to 3.5 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The township announced expanded yard-waste collection Wednesday to help residents dispose of the higher volume of storm-related debris. Residents can call the call the Department of Public Works at 856-424-4422 to schedule a special storm-related yard waste collection.

"During this period, normal weight and bundling restrictions will be relaxed, and Township personnel will collect any yard debris residents can move to the curb," the township said. "Please note: We cannot accommodate requests to move trees or large limbs from private property. We will only collect debris that has been placed at the curb, and cut to a size that can be handled by one person."

The National Weather Service measured 3.11 inches of precipitation at one of its rain gauges in Cherry Hill. Other rain gauges in the township held 2.87 and 2.77 inches.

Out of the hundreds of rain gauges that state environmental officials monitor, the Cooper River gauge had Tuesday's highest rainfall total, at 3.61 inches. The gauge is located by the Haddonfield-Cherry Hill border.

Cherry Hill could receive more showers and thunderstorms in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service. Here's the agency's latest forecast for the township as of 11:30 a.m. Wednesday:

• Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Wednesday night: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, 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.