New Jersey, 1998

Flash Flood and Hail in New Jersey, June 13, 1998

June 13, 1998 · NWS PHI · 4 events in 1 county or zone

A series of thunderstorms produced some large hail, frequent lightning and damaging winds along its leading edge and then caused flash flooding in northern and western sections of the county. Trees were uprooted in Manalapan Township and golf ball size hail fell in Holmdel.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
4

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 PHI wrote it up.

A series of thunderstorms produced some large hail, frequent lightning and damaging winds along its leading edge and then caused flash flooding in northern and western sections of the county. Trees were uprooted in Manalapan Township and golf ball size hail fell in Holmdel. Marble size hail fell in Marlboro and Middletown Townships. Lightning started a house fire in Union Beach. Seven major transmission lines were knocked out. Flash flooding pushed streams out of their banks and closed two roadways in Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet and Middletown Township. The hardest hit communities were Holmdel, Manalapan, Marlboro and Matawan Townships. Storm totals for the 13th and 14th included 4.11 inches in Matawan, 3.34 inches in Freehold and 3.06 inches in Sandy Hook. Most of the rain occurred on the 13th.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Monmouth

When
June 13, 10:25 AM EST
Where
Monmouth County, Manalapan
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.270, -74.400

Hail, Monmouth

When
June 13, 10:39 AM EST
Where
Monmouth County, Holmdel
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.350, -74.180

Flash Flood, Monmouth

When
June 13, 10:40 AM EST to 12:10 PM EST
Where
Monmouth County, Countywide
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Monmouth

When
June 13, 10:45 AM EST
Where
Monmouth County, Union Beach
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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: 5665540, 5665541, 5665542, 5665543.