High Winds, Flooding Likely In Morris County: What To Know

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Morris County is expecting a deluge of rain, high winds, and perhaps floods this week as New Jersey faces another winter storm.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood watch for the whole state beginning Tuesday night and continuing into early Wednesday as further rain soaked the already extremely wet terrain. One to three inches of rainfall is possible, increasing the risk of flooding.

Read more: Another Winter Storm Headed To NJ: Latest Forecast

The Morris County Office of Emergency Management is concerned about flooding in county streams, creeks, and rivers, as well as probable wind gusts of 40–50 mph tomorrow night, which could knock down limbs and power lines.

"We are working closely with our Jersey Central Power and Light partners and will be communicating with them throughout the duration of this event. We are asking the public to pay attention to local municipal messaging and follow the guidance and recommendations of the local municipality," the agency said.

The NWS predicts 25 to 35 mph south winds with gusts up to 55 mph.

"Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result," forecasters said.

There is also a 90 percent chance of at least 2 inches of rain falling across northern New Jersey, including Morris County, according to the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center.

Widespread minor to moderate flooding is also expected, as well as street river flooding caused by snow melt, particularly in North Jersey.

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) meteorologists said that they are closely monitoring the developing weather conditions. JCP&L is prepared to activate its storm response and Incident Command System plans.

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.

Customers should also immediately report downed wires to 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) or call their local police department.

JCP&L also wants to remind customers to stay away from downed wires, even if they believe they are no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled with trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.

Officials offered additional several 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: Rain, mainly after 11 a.m. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 48. Breezy, with an east wind of 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain, mainly before 4 a.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 44. Breezy, with a southeast wind of 20 to 25 mph becoming south 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly before 7 a.m. Partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 41 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a southwest wind of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low of around 30. Breezy, with a west wind of 10 to 20 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.