Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in New Jersey, July 26, 2000

A slow moving low pressure system moved through New Jersey on the 26th. Showers and thunderstorms preceding and accompanying the low's frontal boundary spread across the state from the early morning onward. The heaviest rain fell along the immediate shore. While heavy rain fell across Atlantic and Cape May Counties, during the morning of the 26th, it coincided with the outgoing tide. This was not the case farther north in Ocean and Monmouth Counties where the heaviest rain fell around Noon EDT. Not only was the rain even heavier, but the incoming high tide prevented the runoff from occurring as efficiently. This led not only to widespread urban and poor drainage flooding, but also flooding of some of the rivers, lakes and streams that discharge into the Atlantic Ocean. Dozens of cars succumbed to the rising flood waters. Some roadways were not reopened until the 27th. The opening day of the Monmouth County Fair was postponed. Horse racing was also canceled at Monmouth Park. No serious injuries were reported.In Ocean County, the heavy rain led to the closure of the causeway leading to the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge. Large parts of New Jersey State Route 35 were closed. The worst flooding occurred in Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Lavallette, Bay Head, Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach and most of the flooding occurred near Barnegat Bay. In Point Pleasant alone, nine streets were closed. Farther south, the heavy rain led to flooding near the bay in Beach Haven and Beach Haven Crest. Flood problems also occurred on the mainland. In Brick Township, two roads were closed and there was a voluntary evacuation of Laurelton Village. The rising Toms River flooded the beach and the waters reached behind the pine trees in South Toms River.In Monmouth County, Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach were hit the hardest with widespread flooding and road closures. Roadways in Belmar and Oceanport had about a foot of water on them. Roads in Bradley Beach and Ocean Grove were flooded because of overflow from Fletcher Lake. Road closures also occurred in Long Branch and Ocean Township. Farther west in the state, heavy rain also fell, but flooding was mainly confined to poor drainage locations. Storm totals included 6.05 inches in Neptune (Monmouth County), 6.00 inches in Oakhurst (Monmouth County), 4.20 inches in Wildwood (Cape May County), 3.83 inches in Manasquan (Monmouth County), 3.82 inches in Sandy Hook (Monmouth County), 3.53 inches in Red Bank (Monmouth County), 3.44 inches in Absecon (Atlantic County), 3.33 inches in Belmar (Monmouth County), 3.29 inches in Toms River (Ocean County) and Atlantic City International Airport, 3.11 inches in New Brunswick (Middlesex County), 3.03 inches in Estell Manor (Atlantic County), 2.89 inches in Chatham (Morris County), 2.70 inches in Iselin (Middlesex County), 2.67 inches in Margate (Atlantic County), 2.55 inches in New Brunswick (Middlesex County), 2.52 inches in Belle Mead (Somerset County), 2.43 inches at the Marina within Atlantic City and 2.22 inches in Freehold (Monmouth County).