Heavy Rains Bring Flooding in Cranford

Heavy rains in Cranford have some areas resting underwater.

A Cranford resident photographed flooded spots at Birchwood Avenue, North Union near Riverside, Sperry Park, and other areas. Click the photo thumbnails to the right to see the damage.

The National Weater Service has issued a flash flood watch, and flood and wind advisories for the Union County area. Though the heaviest period of rain trickled off with the end of the morning commute, pooling water in backyards, roadways, drainage systems and other low-lying areas along the Rahway River is still a threat.

NWS river height gauges note the Rahway River at 6.88 feet in Springfield at 11:04 a.m., over the 5.5-foot level that marks flood stage. While there are no such readings for the Cranford portion of the river, police officials don't expect the flooding here to get much worse.

"It subsides once it stops raining," said Lt. Robert Colaneri of the Cranford Police Department. "It's always the same roads that flood. What happens is the roads are below the river level or there's leaves and other stuff blocking the drains. But give it 30 minutes or so and it won't be such a problem."

The service warns motorists not to drive on flooded roads.

In cases of severe flooding, the Cranford Police Department will place barricades over the flood streets and station auxiliary police to block motorists from driving through the water.

See a flooded area in Cranford? Take a photo and send to whitney@patch.com.