New Jersey, 1996

Flash Flood in New Jersey, December 2, 1996

December 2, 1996 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Rain, which fell from December 1st into the morning of the 2nd became heavy at times during the early morning of the 2nd. This caused flooding along the Assunpink Creek within Mercer County.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.

Rain, which fell from December 1st into the morning of the 2nd became heavy at times during the early morning of the 2nd. This caused flooding along the Assunpink Creek within Mercer County. The Assunpink Creek in Trenton, reached its 7 foot flood stage at 430 a.m. EST on the 2nd, crested at 8.3 feet at 830 a.m. EST on the 2nd and was back within bankfull at 1130 a.m. EST on the 2nd. Storm totals included 2.4 inches in Washington's Crossing and 1.85 inches in Hightstown. No serious injuries or damage were reported.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:31 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Mercer

When
December 2, 4:30 AM EST to 11:30 AM EST
Where
Mercer County, Countywide
Coordinates
40.283, -74.702 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Jersey in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, December 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5576736.