Flood in New Jersey, December 15 to 16, 1996

Heavy rain the night of the 13th associated with a low pressure system near Delaware and the saturated soil that preceded this low pressure system caused river flooding in Hunterdon, Morris and Somerset Counties. This heavy rain was part of a larger and almost continuous period of rain that lasted about 48 hours from the evening of the 12th through the evening of the 14th. In Hunterdon County, the South Branch of the Raritan River at Stanton was above its 8 foot flood stage from 545 a.m through 915 a.m. EST on the 14th. It crested at 8.13 feet at 715 a.m. EST on the 14th. Storm totals included 3.88 inches in Riegelsville and 3.2 inches in Wertsville.In Morris County, the Rockaway River below the Boonton Reservoir was barely above its 5 foot flood stage from 1 a.m. through 8 a.m. EST on the 15th. It crested at 5.02 feet at 245 a.m. EST on the 15th. The Passaic River at Pine Brook was barely above its estimated flood stage of 19 feet from 1245 a.m. EST on the 15th through 1145 a.m. EST on the 16th. It crested at 19.04 feet at 730 p.m. EST on the 15th. Storm totals included 2.22 inches in Long Valley and 1.76 inches in Boonton. In Somerset County, the Raritan River at Manville reached its 12 foot flood stage at 9 a.m. EST on the 14th, crested at 14.8 feet at 6 p.m. EST on the 14th and was within bankfull at 3 a.m. EST on the 15th. At Bound Brook, the Raritan River was above its 26 foot flood stage from 2 p.m. EST on the 14th through 8 a.m. EST on the 15th. It crested at 28.4 feet at 930 p.m. EST on the 14th. The Millstone River at Blackwell Mills reached its 9 foot flood stage at 130 p.m. EST on the 14th, crested at 10.8 feet at 1030 p.m. EST on the 14th and was within its banks again at 2 p.m. EST on the 15th. Hillsborough was hardest hit with five roadways and one bridge closed due to flooding. Three other roads were closed due to flooding in Branchburg, Bridgewater, Franklin and Montgomery. Storm totals included 1.87 inches in Pottersville.