New Jersey, 1998

Flash Flooding and Lightning Strikes in New Jersey, June 13, 1998

June 13, 1998 · NWS OKX · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

Preceded by a steady light to occasionally moderate rainfall, a line of thunderstorms developed and moved east over the area. Torrential rains resulted in widespread serious flooding of streets, poor drainage and low-lying areas, and home basements.

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
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.

Preceded by a steady light to occasionally moderate rainfall, a line of thunderstorms developed and moved east over the area. Thunderstorms produced torrential flash flooding rains and frequent lightning.Torrential rains resulted in widespread serious flooding of streets, poor drainage and low-lying areas, and home basements. Lightning struck homes and ignited fires that damaged them.In both Hudson and Bergen Counties, up to 3 feet of water inundated streets and damaged many cars. Flooding caused manhole covers to pop in Rutherford . In West Orange, a river of water flowed into and damaged homes on Nestro Road.In Garfield, a house was hit by lightning that ignited a fire and caused minor structural and smoke damage. Another house was struck by lightning in Leonia.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Hudson

When
June 13, 10:42 AM EST
Where
Hudson County, Countywide
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.731, -74.076 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bergen

When
June 13, 10:50 AM EST
Where
Bergen County, Rutherford
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.960, -74.074 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Bergen

When
June 13, 10:50 AM EST
Where
Bergen County, Garfield
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.960, -74.074 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Bergen

When
June 13, 10:52 AM EST
Where
Bergen County, Leonia
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.960, -74.074 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Essex

When
June 13, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Essex County, West Orange
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.787, -74.247 (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.
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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, June 1998

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: 5658652, 5658653, 5658654, 5658655, 5658656.