New Jersey, 1996

Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in New Jersey, July 3, 1996

July 3, 1996 · NWS OKX · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

Union and Bergen Counties were hardest hit. Numerous roads were closed and small streams rose out of their banks in Central and Eastern Union County, where torrential rains from 2 to 7 inches fell.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 OKX wrote it up.

Strong thunderstorms during late morning and again late afternoon produced torrential rain that caused widespread flash flooding of low lying and poor drainage areas, small streams, and rivers.Union and Bergen Counties were hardest hit. Numerous roads were closed and small streams rose out of their banks in Central and Eastern Union County, where torrential rains from 2 to 7 inches fell. Roads were closed near Roselle and Colonia as well as along Route 1 near Linden in Union County. Roads were also closed near Allendale in Bergen County.A thunderstorm also produced strong wind gusts which downed trees in Wayne of Passaic County.In addition, lightning also hit a tree, causing it to fall on a house in Totowa of Passaic County around 4:30 pm EST.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:38 UTC.

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Event by event

4 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Union

When
July 3, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Union County, Linden
Coordinates
40.660, -74.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Passaic

When
July 3, 4:36 PM EST
Where
Passaic County, Wayne
Coordinates
41.034, -74.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Passaic

When
July 3, 4:40 PM EST
Where
Passaic County, Wayne
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
40.930, -74.250

Flash Flood, Bergen

When
July 3, 4:40 PM EST
Where
Bergen County, Allendale
Coordinates
40.960, -74.074 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Union

When
July 3, 4:42 PM EST
Where
Union County, Rahway
Coordinates
40.660, -74.309 (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.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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, July 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: 5583684, 5583685, 5583686, 5583687, 5583688.