More rain, flooding expected in the Northeast as flash floods kill 2 in New Jersey
Two people were killed in flash flooding in New Jersey after several major cities across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were inundated by heavy rainfall that swamped roads, knocked out power, and prompted water rescues on July 14.
The storms caused flash flooding in the metropolitan areas from New York City to Washington, D.C., prompting road closures and a state of emergency declaration in New Jersey. Officials recorded 6 inches of rain in under two-and-a-half hours the evening of July 14, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a news conference.
"Last night we got crushed," Murphy told reporters on July 15.
Flood impacts are expected to continue on Tuesday, July 15, the National Weather Service in Mount Holly said.
The two victims were swept away in their vehicle in Plainfield, New Jersey, a suburb about 30 miles outside New York City, Murphy said. Their remains were recovered sometime overnight or early in the morning, he said.
Video posted to social media showed a New York City subway station inundated with fast-moving floodwaters as passengers watched from inside a train, lifting their feet to avoid the water rushing into the subway car. In McLean, Virginia, just outside Washington, videos showed cars stuck in floodwaters.
On July 15, parts of the Mid-Atlantic, including much of the state of Virginia, were under flood watches as forecasters warned more thunderstorms and heavy downpours were in store. The rainfall and flash flood risks to the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian region are expected to last through mid-week, the National Weather Service said.
2 dead in New Jersey; Gov. declares state of emergency
The two people who died were swept away in their vehicle into Cedar Brook during the height of the storm, the city of Plainfield said in a news release. Emergency personnel responded quickly, but were unable to rescue the two victims, the city said.
The flooding in Plainfield came as the city was already reeling from a severe storm on July 3, when two men, ages 79 and 25, were killed by a tree that fell on their vehicle.
"To lose four residents in such a short span of time is unimaginable. We mourn with the families," Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said.
Murphy declared a state of emergency in response to the heavy rainfall and flash flooding on the evening of July 14.
"Please stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Stay safe, New Jersey," Murphy said.
Among the communities hardest hit were a cluster of New York suburbs, including North Plainfield, Piscataway, Watchung, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, and Westfield, reported MyCentralJersey.com, part of the Paste BN Network. Multiple counties reported road closures. Thousands lost power the evening of July 14, with most service restored by the next morning.
Murphy said severe weather events were becoming more intense and common, and noted that the July 14 storm came in two waves.
"One wave knocked a lot of these communities a little bit off kilter and the second one came in for the kill," he said.
New York City sees the second-highest rainfall in an hour
A rain gauge in New York City's Central Park recorded 2.07 inches of rain in one hour, the second-highest amount in an hour at that location in the city's history, according to the mayor's office. The only higher amount recorded was during Hurricane Ida, when 3.15 inches were recorded on Sept. 1, 2021. The third-highest amount in an hour was 1.94 inches during Tropical Storm Henri in August 2021.
The hour of heavy rain was recorded between 6:51 p.m. and 7:51 p.m. on July 14, the mayor's office said in a statement.
"While not currently a formal record, the reading reflects rainfall intensity consistent with two of New York City's most extreme flood events," the statement said.
Mayor Eric Adams commended first responders and city residents for their response to the storm: "Because people listened – because they stayed off flooded roads and helped protect one another – we avoided greater harm. This is how we meet the moment in a city facing rising climate risks."
Homes flooded with 5 feet of water in Pennsylvania
First responders had to perform at least 16 water rescues on July 14 in the Mount Joy Borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, about 70 miles north of Baltimore, where over 7 inches of rain fell in less than five hours, officials said.
The stormwater infrastructure was overwhelmed by the heavy rainfall, sending flash flooding through parts of the borough, the Mount Joy Fire Department said. No injuries or deaths were reported, but the area sustained "significant property damage," the fire department said.
Some homes on the west side of town were inundated with over 5 feet of floodwater. One basement had a wall collapse in the flooding, the fire department said.
New Jersey home explodes during flooding
In North Plainfield, a New Jersey borough located about 20 miles southwest of Newark, a house exploded overnight as floodwaters inundated the area. The blast occurred at about 2:45 a.m. ET on July 15 and damaged several nearby homes, police said.
Local television footage showed wooden slats from the front of the home lying flat on the ground with torn siding and other rubble behind it.
"On arrival, police officers found the home fully engulfed in flames," the North Plainfield Police Department said in a news release on July 15. "The explosion appears to have been the result of a gas leak. Luckily, the home appears to have been empty and no victims were located."
Before the explosion, police reported that heavy torrential rains had dropped several inches of rain on North Plainfield and caused widespread flooding on July 14. The flooding turned most roads into "rivers and made them unpassable," police said.
Police noted that some residents needed to be rescued from vehicles and homes across the borough. About 40 people were rescued from floodwaters that "destroyed countless homes and vehicles," according to police.
Roads in the area remained closed on July 15 due to structural damage and debris, including wires and trees, police added.
More rain, flooding expected in parts of New Jersey
Forecasters are anticipating more heavy rain in parts of New Jersey. The National Weather Service's office in Mount Holly issued a flood watch for portions of central, northern, and northwest New Jersey from the afternoon of July 16 through late that night.
The region, which includes Sussex, Morris, and Warren counties, could see multiple inches of rain on top of the totals from the July 14 storm, in which some towns recorded more than 6 inches of rainfall.
The weather service said another round of heavy showers and thunderstorms was expected on July 16, with storms "capable of dropping a quick 1 to 2 inches of rainfall within a 1 to 3 hour period leading to flash flooding."
"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the weather service warned in its advisory. "Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas."
New York City warns more flooding could be on the way
Officials in New York said additional flooding could come on July 15 after runoff from the previous day's storm caused the Bronx River to rise to a "moderate flood stage" of 3.7 feet. The river's rise is expected to cause flooding in low-lying areas and areas with poor drainage.
Photos shared by the National Weather Service in New York City showed parts of the Bronx River Parkway covered by floodwaters early the morning of July 15.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, Paste BN; Kyle Morel, NorthJersey.com