New Jersey, 1996

Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in New Jersey, September 8, 1996

September 8, 1996 · NWS OKX · 8 events in 3 counties and zones

High winds knocked down trees and power lines at Scotch Plains and Elizabeth in Union County. In addition, two cars were damaged on 31st Street and Ave.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

Thunderstorms produced high winds and torrential rain.High winds knocked down trees and power lines at Scotch Plains and Elizabeth in Union County. In addition, two cars were damaged on 31st Street and Ave. C in Jersey City when downed trees fell on them.Torrential rain caused flash flooding of low lying and poor drainage areas, including many roads. In particular, major flooding was reported along Routes 1 and 9 in Hudson County.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When
September 8, 1:30 PM EST to 1:45 PM EST
Where
Union County, Mountainside to Westfield
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
40.670, -74.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When
September 8, 2:15 PM EST
Where
Union County, Scotch Plains to Elizabeth
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
40.650, -74.370

Flash Flood, Union

When
September 8, 2:15 PM EST
Where
Union County, Elizabeth
Coordinates
40.660, -74.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Essex

When
September 8, 2:15 PM EST
Where
Essex County, Newark
Coordinates
40.787, -74.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Essex

When
September 8, 2:20 PM EST
Where
Essex County, Newark
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
40.787, -74.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Union

When
September 8, 2:25 PM EST
Where
Union County, Plainfield
Coordinates
40.660, -74.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hudson

When
September 8, 2:45 PM EST
Where
Hudson County, Harrison
Coordinates
40.731, -74.076 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Hudson

When
September 8, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Hudson County, Jersey City
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
40.720, -74.080

What these are

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.
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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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, September 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5584032, 5584033, 5584034, 5584035, 5584036, 5584037, 5584038, 5584039.