Flooding in New Jersey, December 2 to 5, 1996

A slow moving cold front, coupled with a low pressure system that developed over West Virginia on the 1st and moved just northwest of New Jersey on the 2nd brought rain to the area from the 1st through the morning of the 2nd. The rain became heavy at times during the early morning of the 2nd. This led to flooding in the Passaic and Raritan Basins.In Morris County, the Rockaway River both above and below the Boonton Reservoir exceeded their 5 foot flood stage. Below the reservoir, the Rockaway was above flood stage from 4 a.m. EST on the 2nd through 2 a.m. EST on the 4th. It crested at 6.3 feet at 8 p.m. EST on the 2nd. Above the reservoir, the Rockaway was above flood stage from 1030 a.m. through 9 p.m. EST on the 2nd. It crested at 5.2 feet at 315 p.m. EST on the 2nd. The Passaic River at Pine Brook was above its estimated 19 foot flood stage from 2 a.m. EST on the 2nd through 830 p.m. EST on the 5th. It crested at 19.4 feet at 8 p.m. EST on the 3rd. Storm totals included 3.27 inches in Long Valley and 3.23 inches in Boonton. No serious injuries or damage were reported. In Somerset County, the Millstone River at Blackwells Mills was above its 9 foot flood stage from 11 a.m. EST on the 2nd through 10 a.m. EST on the 3rd. It crested at 10.5 feet at 930 p.m. EST on the 2nd. The Raritan River at Manville reached its 12 foot flood stage at 630 a.m. EST on the 2nd, crested at 15.7 feet at 515 p.m. EST on the 2nd and was back within bankfull at 4 a.m. EST on the 3rd. Farther downstream, the Raritan at Bound Brook was above its 26 foot flood stage from 1130 a.m. EST on the 2nd through 730 a.m. EST on the 3rd. It crested at 28.9 feet at 815 p.m. EST on the 2nd. The flooding caused the closure of six roadways in Bedminster, Branchburg (three roads), Bridgewater, Franklin, Hillsborough and Montgomery. At least one home in Branchburg on New Jersey State Route 28 was damaged by flooding along the North Branch of the Raritan River. Storm totals included 3.48 inches in Pottersville and 2.23 inches in Bridgewater. In Hunterdon County, the South Branch of the Raritan River reached its 8 foot flood stage at 6 a.m. EST on the 2nd, crested at 9.6 feet at 745 a.m. EST on the 2nd and was back within bankfull at 1045 a.m. EST on the 2nd. Storm totals included 3.37 inches in Califon, 2.68 inches in Lambertville and 2.63 inches in Wertsville. No serious injuries or damage were reported.