Flash Flooding in New Jersey, July 24 to 25, 1997

Heavy rain, associated with weak low pressure systems riding along a nearly stationary frontal boundary in the southern Delmarva Peninsula, caused urban flooding as well as flooding of some of the streams and rivers in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties. A steady rain started early during the day on the 24th. The heaviest rain fell during the afternoon and early evening on the 24th. The heavy rain nearly coincided with the high tide around noon EDT on the 24th along coastal Monmouth County and this exacerbated the drainage flooding by slowing the runoff into the bays and ocean. In Middlesex County, dozens of roads were closed countywide. Hardest hit during the afternoon of the 24th were roadways in East Brunswick, North Brunswick, Piscataway, South Amboy and Woodbridge. Most were reopened during that evening. About 3 p.m. EDT, 100 employees were evacuated from a building in Dunellen after a 20 by 20 foot section of its roof collapsed. The heavy rain forced a road collapse in Perth Amboy. In New Brunswick, a giant sign truss collapsed and forced the closure of New Jersey State Route 18. In Monmouth County, significant street flooding was reported in both Neptune and Sea Girt. The heavy rain also caused a partial home collapse in Neptune. Flooding along the Poplar Creek in Monmouth County nearly caused the evacuation of the Poplar Village apartments.The 24 hour precipitation total ending 7 a.m. EDT on the 25th in New Brunswick was 6.24 inches. This was the second highest 24 hour storm total on record only surpassed by the 7.66 inches of rain that fell because of Tropical Storm Doria on August 28, 1971. Storm totals (rain started falling earlier on the 24th) included 8.32 inches in Iselin, 7.90 inches in Woodbridge, 7.50 inches in New Brunswick, 6.55 inches in Sandy Hook, 6.42 inches in South Plainfield, 4.63 inches in Freehold and 4.26 inches in Matawan.