Flooding, Home Lightning Strike Reported In Morris Plains: Officials

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ - Morris Plains first responders answered nine calls - including a report of a home struck by lightning - during a six-hour period during Monday’s fierce storm, fire officials said.

Members of the Morris Plains Fire Department and Fire Association responded to vehicles stuck in flood waters, two mutual aid calls and flooding issues in residential and commercial buildings “across the borough” on Monday, officials said.

Just before 11 p.m., a residential structure was reportedly struck by lightning, fire officials said. An inspection of the home found no fire and minimal damage to the structure.

Monday’s storm brought over three inches of rainfall to the Garden State, with the National Weather Service Mount Holly office reporting two rainfall totals for the greater Morristown area: one at 2.95 inches, and the second at 1.86 inches.

The storms knocked out power for around 50,000 New Jersey residents as well, with Jersey Central Power & Light showing more than 1,600 homes and businesses across Morris County were still without power as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Morris County on Monday, bringing with it up to 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail in the area.

“Several instances of flooding are possible, especially in urban and poor-drainage areas and near vulnerable small creeks and streams,” the National Weather Service said.

More rain is on the way, forecasters say, as there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday morning, followed by showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. Except in thunderstorms, new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.

The National Weather Service has also issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook alert for all of Morris County, which is expected to last through Wednesday.