Add Another Five Inches Of Rain In Northwest Jersey

In what seems to be an endless cycle, another upper level low continues to spin in the Midwest, and more rain streams up into portions of the Garden State.  It has been the story for nearly the last two months, and the result has been 20 plus inches of rain throughout much of the Garden State.  Northwestern Middlesex County has received 21 inches of rainfall in the past 60 days.

The latest round came over the past several days.  On Wednesday, heavy rainfall struck in Northwestern New Jersey.  Places such as Hackettstown in Warren County, Clinton Township in Hunterdon County, Newton in Sussex County, and Mount Olive in Morris County received anywhere between 2.1 and 3.9 inches of rainfall.  Those amounts increased to 5 inches or more on Thursday when another round of rain came through.

Meanwhile, in South Plainfield, located in Northwestern Middlesex County, there was 0.06 inches on Wednesday, and another 0.63 inches on Thursday.  Only 1.2 inches of rain fell in the past week.  So, residents here have been pretty lucky.  More rain fell in the waterlogged region of the Susquehanna Valley of Central Pennsylvania, which is still trying to dry out from rains earlier this month courtesy of the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee.

A couple spots in New Jersey hard hit by the latest round of rainfall were Bartley Road in Flanders in Morris County and Schooleys Mountain Road in Washington Township in Warren County.  Schooleys Mountain Road, which actually starts as County Road 517 in the Hunterdon County hamlet of Oldwick, was severely crippled by floodwaters.  Portions of the road surface was torn apart by the flooding according to an article in Thursday’s Star-Ledger.

Meanwhile, Bartley Road became prey for a raging river of water to come in, and carry away anything in its path.  A number of cars were swept away by the flash flood.  Rescues had to be made.  David Robinson, the State Climatologist, indicated that with the latest round of rainfall, the statewide average since August 1st has been 22 inches.  For the year, the average around the Garden State has been about 51 inches, which is just under 9 inches short of the all time record.

More rain could be on the way as this current upper level low is going to be replaced by another one that will be situated a bit further to the east in the Eastern Great Lakes.  Unsettled conditions are expected to resume on Saturday with showers along with cooler temperatures.  The forecast for Sunday is expected to be a bit warmer than previously anticipated.  Temps were only expected to get into the mid to upper 50s on Sunday.  Now, they are forecast to be in the low 60s.