Flash Flood in New Jersey, July 14, 2004

Name: Flash Flood in New Jersey, July 14, 2004
Start: 2004-07-14T19:17
End: 2004-07-14T21:11
Location: New Jersey

July 14, 2004 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A series of thunderstorms with heavy rain caused flooding along Pike Run in Belle Mead (Montgomery Township). m.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 with heavy rain caused flooding along Pike Run in Belle Mead (Montgomery Township). Pike Run was above its 7 foot flood stage from 817 p.m. through 1011 p.m. EDT on the 14th. It crested at 7.27 feet 915 p.m. EDT. Doppler Radar storm total estimates reached around 2.5 inches in southern Somerset County.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 14, 6:26 PM EST, 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 14, 6:26 PM EST, 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
726 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

.UPDATE...
ISSUED UPDATED ZONES TO REMOVE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCH
HEADLINES, ALONG WITH THE ENHANCED WORDING. QUITE THE ACTIVE LATE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WITH SOME SUPERCELL/BOWING STORMS
MOVING THROUGH. STORMS TAPPED THE LOW-LEVEL SHEAR THAT WAS ENHANCED
AS WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY WAS DRAPED ACROSS THE CWA, THEREFORE SOME
ROTATION OCCURRED IN A FEW OF THE STORMS. STORMS REALLY SURGING
FORWARD NOW OFF THE NEW JERSEY COAST, AND A SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
CONTINUES.

WE WILL MAINTAIN THE FLOOD WATCH FOR NOW THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF
THE EVENING AS SOME MORE CELLS STILL APPROACHING THE WESTERN PART
OF THE CWA, THEREFORE SOME HEAVY RAIN STILL POSSIBLE.

REPORTS OF HAIL AND STRONG WINDS IN PARTS OF THE CWA. FOR SOME OF
THE STORM REPORTS, PLEASE SEE THE LOCAL STORM REPORT PRODUCT
(PHLLSRPHI).

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071.
NJ...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT NJZ001-007>010-012-015>020-027.
DE...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT DEZ001.
MD...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDZ008.
MARINE/OCEAN...NONE.
MARINE/DEL BAY...NONE.

GORSE

----------------------------------------
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ISSUED AT 430 PM...

ANOTHER ACTIVE WX DAY AS COLD FRONT MOVES EAST INTO OUR FA.
SVR TSTM WATCH ALL ERN PA UNTIL 7 PM. TOR WATCH DEL/MD/SRN NJ
UNTIL 7 PM. FLOOD WATCH CONTS UNTIL MIDNIGHT NE MD/NRN DE/
MUCH OF NRN/CEN/WRN NJ. ONCE THE THREAT OF SEVERE WX ENDS LATER
THIS EVENING AS THE FRONT PASSES...A FEW SHWRS MAY LINGER UNTIL
AFTER MIDNIGHT. ENERGY ROTATING AROUND THE UPPER LEVEL LOW MAY
TOUCH OFF A FEW SHWRS/TSTMS NE PA AND NRN NJ LATE THURS. A
REINFORCING SHOT OF COLD AIR MAY SET OFF ADDITIONAL SHOWERS/TSTMS
FRI AFTN AND EVNG. FARTHER INTO THE WEEKEND...AN EAST COAST TROF
WILL SET UP...KEEPING THE MID ALTC REGION IN UNSETTLED WX UNTIL
IT MOVES OFF TO THE EAST...AND THAT MAY NOT OCCUR UNTIL MIDWEEK.

&&

.MARINE...
SEAS ON THE COASTAL WATERS HAVE BEEN IN THE 2 TO 4 FOOT RANGE THIS
AFTERNOON. BUOY 44025 HAD SEAS TO 5 FEET EARLIER, BUT HAVE SINCE
LOWERED TO 4 FEET AS WINDS HAVE LESSENED. OVERALL, WINDS AND SEAS
ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA THROUGH
THE FORECAST PERIOD. A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE REGION THIS
EVENING WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, SOME
OF WHICH COULD HAVE GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS. A TORNADO WATCH IS
IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN COASTAL WATERS AND THE DELAWARE BAY UNTIL
7 PM.

&&

.AVIATION...
SOME LOW CLOUDS CONTINUE TO EFFECT MOST OF THE TERMINALS THIS
AFTERNOON, HOWEVER OVERALL CEILINGS HAVE BEEN BOUNCING AROUND.
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED TO THE WEST AND
WILL MOVE ACROSS ALL THE TERMINALS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.
AIRMASS FARTHER EAST IS LESS UNSTABLE, HOWEVER HAVE INCLUDED GUSTY
WINDS AND +TSRA IN THE TAFS TO REFLECT THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS WILL AVERAGE FROM THE SOUTH THROUGH THE EVENING (WITH SOME
SHIFTING WHEN THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH) AND THEN SWITCH TO THE
WEST THURSDAY MORNING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. PRESSURE
GRADIENT WITH UPPER LOW TO THE NORTH MAY BE TIGHT ENOUGH OVERNIGHT
AND THURSDAY MORNING TO PRECLUDE MUCH IN THE WAY OF FOG FORMATION,
HOWEVER THE TYPICAL PLACES THAT TEND TO SEE SOME DECOUPLING, MAY
HAVE A TOUCH OF FOG LATE TONIGHT OR TOWARD DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MPO 59 69 58 73 / 40 30 30 30
ABE 64 77 60 80 / 40 30 30 30
RDG 64 78 61 81 / 40 30 30 30
PHL 67 82 66 83 / 40 20 20 30
12N 63 76 59 78 / 40 30 30 30
SMQ 65 79 60 81 / 40 20 20 30
TTN 66 81 62 82 / 40 20 20 30
MIV 65 83 64 83 / 40 10 10 30
N55 67 82 67 81 / 40 10 10 30
ACY 66 83 63 84 / 40 10 10 30
ILG 67 81 65 83 / 40 10 10 30
DOV 67 84 64 84 / 40 10 10 30
GED 66 85 64 84 / 40 10 10 30

RPW/GORSE

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 14, 9:15 AM EST, 10 hours 2 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTION FOR SOFTWARE GLITCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1015 AM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-151015-
ATLANTIC NJ-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-BERKS PA-BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ-
CAPE MAY NJ-CARBON PA-CAROLINE MD-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-
COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-COASTAL OCEAN NJ-CUMBERLAND NJ-DELAWARE PA-
DELAWARE BEACHES DE-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ-GLOUCESTER NJ-HUNTERDON NJ-
INLAND SUSSEX DE-KENT MD-KENT DE-LEHIGH PA-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ-
MONROE PA-MONTGOMERY PA-MORRIS NJ-NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHAMPTON PA-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-QUEEN ANNES MD-
SALEM NJ-SOMERSET NJ-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON NJ-SUSSEX NJ-TALBOT MD-
WARREN NJ-WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
1015 AM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, MOST OF CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY,
EXTREME NORTHEAST MARYLAND AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. LOCALIZED AMOUNTS
UP TO AROUND THREE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER IS
NO LONGER EXPECTED LATER TODAY. NEVERTHELESS THERE COULD BE A COUPLE
OF ISOLATED PULSE TYPE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE GREATEST
VULNERABILITY IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THE DELMARVA PENINSULA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MIGHT BE REQUIRED TODAY IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED
FLOOD WATCH.

TFG

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 14, 4:28 PM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
528 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0409 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ROBESONIA               40.35N 76.14W
07/14/2004                   BERKS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN IN THE HEIDELBERG AREA.

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     TOWNSEND                39.39N 75.69W
07/14/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED.

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     MIDDLETOWN              39.45N 75.71W
07/14/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   TRAINED SPOTTER

0435 PM     HAIL             CHARLESTOWN             39.58N 75.98W
07/14/2004  0.88 INCH        CECIL              MD   PUBLIC

0435 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 E MILLSTONE           40.50N 74.53W
07/14/2004  59 MPH           SOMERSET           NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SMALL HAIL WAS ALSO REPORTED.

0508 PM     HAIL             ELKTON                  39.60N 75.82W
07/14/2004  0.88 INCH        CECIL              MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

0520 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HATFIELD                40.28N 75.30W
07/14/2004                   MONTGOMERY         PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE LIMBS DOWNED.

&&

GORSE

Local storm report, Jul 14, 5:21 PM EST, 1 hour 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
621 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0409 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ROBESONIA               40.35N 76.14W
07/14/2004                   BERKS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN IN THE HEIDELBERG AREA.

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     MIDDLETOWN              39.45N 75.71W
07/14/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   TRAINED SPOTTER

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     TOWNSEND                39.39N 75.69W
07/14/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED.

0435 PM     HAIL             CHARLESTOWN             39.58N 75.98W
07/14/2004  0.88 INCH        CECIL              MD   PUBLIC

0435 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 E MILLSTONE           40.50N 74.53W
07/14/2004  59 MPH           SOMERSET           NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SMALL HAIL WAS ALSO REPORTED.

0508 PM     HAIL             ELKTON                  39.60N 75.82W
07/14/2004  0.88 INCH        CECIL              MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

0520 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HATFIELD                40.28N 75.30W
07/14/2004                   MONTGOMERY         PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE LIMBS DOWNED.

0550 PM     HEAVY RAIN       PHILADELPHIA            40.01N 75.13W
07/14/2004  0.00 INCH        PHILADELPHIA       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MINOR STREET FLOODING REPORTED IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA.

0555 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ROSENHAYN               39.48N 75.14W
07/14/2004  0.00 INCH        CUMBERLAND         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STREET FLOODING REPORTED.

0555 PM     HAIL             ROSENHAYN               39.48N 75.14W
07/14/2004  0.25 INCH        CUMBERLAND         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FAIRTON                 39.38N 75.21W
07/14/2004                   CUMBERLAND         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES AND WIRES DOWNED IN NEWPORT. THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST
            MEASURED TO 62 MPH IN NEWPORT.

&&

GORSE

Local storm report, Jul 14, 5:53 PM EST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
653 PM EDT WED JUL 14 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0409 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ROBESONIA               40.35N 76.14W
07/14/2004                   BERKS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN IN THE HEIDELBERG AREA.

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     MIDDLETOWN              39.45N 75.71W
07/14/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   TRAINED SPOTTER

0415 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     TOWNSEND                39.39N 75.69W
07/14/2004                   NEW CASTLE         DE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED.

0435 PM     HAIL             CHARLESTOWN             39.58N 75.98W
07/14/2004  0.88 INCH        CECIL              MD   PUBLIC

0435 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 E MILLSTONE           40.50N 74.53W
07/14/2004  59 MPH           SOMERSET           NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SMALL HAIL WAS ALSO REPORTED.

0508 PM     HAIL             ELKTON                  39.60N 75.82W
07/14/2004  0.88 INCH        CECIL              MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

0520 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HATFIELD                40.28N 75.30W
07/14/2004                   MONTGOMERY         PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE LIMBS DOWNED.

0550 PM     HEAVY RAIN       PHILADELPHIA            40.01N 75.13W
07/14/2004  0.00 INCH        PHILADELPHIA       PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MINOR STREET FLOODING REPORTED IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA.

0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FAIRTON                 39.38N 75.21W
07/14/2004                   CUMBERLAND         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES AND WIRES DOWNED IN NEWPORT. THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST
            MEASURED TO 62 MPH IN NEWPORT.

0555 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ROSENHAYN               39.48N 75.14W
07/14/2004  0.00 INCH        CUMBERLAND         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STREET FLOODING REPORTED.

0555 PM     HAIL             ROSENHAYN               39.48N 75.14W
07/14/2004  0.25 INCH        CUMBERLAND         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

0638 PM     HAIL             ESTELL MANOR            39.35N 74.77W
07/14/2004  0.25 INCH        ATLANTIC           NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

0645 PM     HAIL             NORTHFIELD              39.37N 74.55W
07/14/2004  1.75 INCH        ATLANTIC           NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.

&&

GORSE

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Somerset

When: July 14, 7:17 PM EST to 9:11 PM EST
Where: Somerset County, Belle Mead
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.564, -74.616 (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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New Jersey in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in New Jersey, July 2004

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: 5421931.