Flood Watch Issued For Morris County Ahead Of New Winter Storm

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Following an intense amount of rain on Tuesday night, another flood watch has been issued for Morris County, and officials are bracing themselves for another storm.

The watch issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) is in effect from Friday at 7 p.m. through Saturday at 7 a.m.

The storm is projected to bring rainfall totals ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 inches, damaging winds and a chance of coastal flooding, according to forecasters.

"Given saturated soils and stream and river levels remaining high, additional flooding is possible in urban areas, creeks, and rivers," according to the NWS.

The NWS warns of potential floods, particularly in urban and low-drainage areas, as well as around small creeks and streams.

Windy weather might result in occasional cases of tree damage and power outages.

"After a major weather event, hundreds or even thousands of damage locations, including broken poles and downed power lines, are common. FirstEnergy personnel prioritize clearing hazards like downed power lines, trees and blocked roads to ensure public safety. Employees must also assess the damage to enable line crews to access outage sites and initiate safe repairs. The formal restoration process focuses on addressing widespread outages first, before tackling more isolated issues," Jersey Central Power & Light spokesman Chris Hoenig said.

In the event outages occur due to severe weather, customers without power are encouraged to report their outage by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), clicking the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com, or by texting out to 544487.

Most of the flooding in the Morris County area has receded except for the Rockaway River at Boonton Below Reservoir and the Passaic River at Pine Brook. As of Friday afternoon, there are areas of the two rivers that remain in the "moderate" and "major" flood stages.

Officials offered several additional safety tips for residents. They include:

• Make sure any storm drains by your home are clear of snow and debris, so water is able to drain properly.
• Check to make sure your sump pump is functioning and the drainage hose is not obstructed.
• Due to the potential gusty winds tonight, make sure you have your generator refueled and it is operating properly.
• Check on seniors to make sure that they are warm and dry.
• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• Check all windows and doors for drafts. Place plastic if you feel a draft.

Take a look at the upcoming forecast:

Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 44. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Tonight: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Temperature rising to around 51 by 4 a.m. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday: A chance of rain, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 39 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Sunday: A chance of snow after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sunday Night: A chance of snow before 7 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 18. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent.