New Jersey, 1999

Flash Flooding and Flooding in New Jersey, August 26, 1999

August 26, 1999 · NWS OKX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Widespread rain developed just north of a warm front that remained nearly stationary just south of the area. Scattered thunderstorms produced torrential rain that caused significant and serious urban flash flooding across Eastern Union County, Northern Hudson County, and across several parts of Bergen County.

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.

Widespread rain developed just north of a warm front that remained nearly stationary just south of the area. Scattered thunderstorms produced torrential rain that caused significant and serious urban flash flooding across Eastern Union County, Northern Hudson County, and across several parts of Bergen County. Less serious flooding occurred across Eastern Essex and Passaic Counties.Here are selected rainfall amounts for:Union County: from 3.03 inches at Canoe Brook to 5.20 inches at Elizabeth. More than 3 feet of water flooded several basements and damaged cars in Elizabeth and flooded streets in Linden.Essex County: from 1.72 inches at the Orange Reservoir to 3.17 inches at Newark.Hudson County: from 3.30 inches at Kearny to 3.65 inches at Harrison. Serious flooding of streets such as Routes 1 and 9 between Communipaw and Duncan Aves. occurred in Jersey City and were forced to close.Passaic County: from 1.36 inches at West Milford to 2.99 inches at Patterson. Less serious flooding of streets such as Route 46 in Clifton occurred.Bergen County: from 1.20 inches at Oakland to 3.79 inches at Palisades Park. Many roads were forced to close due to serious flooding in Hackensack, Rutherford, and Lodi.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flash Flood, Union

When
August 26, 5:30 AM EST to 7:30 AM EST
Where
Union County, Southeast Portion
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
40.660, -74.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Essex

When
August 26, 5:30 AM EST to 7:30 AM EST
Where
Essex County, Irvington
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
40.787, -74.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hudson

When
August 26, 5:30 AM EST to 7:30 AM EST
Where
Hudson County, Jersey City
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.731, -74.076 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Passaic

When
August 26, 6:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Passaic County, Clifton
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.034, -74.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bergen

When
August 26, 6:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Bergen County, Countywide
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.960, -74.074 (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.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Jersey in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, August 1999

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: 5717782, 5717783, 5717784, 5717785, 5717786.