Flood in New Jersey, June 27 to 30, 2006

Name: Flood in New Jersey, June 27 to 30, 2006
Start: 2006-06-27T19:30
End: 2006-06-30T18:03
Location: New Jersey

June 27 to 30, 2006 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

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: $15 million
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.

Several days of heavy rain throughout the Delaware River Basin culminated with major flooding along the Delaware River from the 28th through the 30th. It was the second to fourth highest crest on record for the Delaware River along Warren County. The crest was slightly lower than the April 2005 flood in Belivdere and Phillipsburg, but the second highest on record (since 1955) at Tocks Island. President George W. Bush declared Warren County a disaster area. Sporadic periods of heavy rain started on the 23rd, but the most widespread and heaviest rain fell from the night of the 27th into the morning of the 28th. Event totals in Warren County averaged three to eight inches, but storm totals exceeded ten inches in parts of the Upper Delaware Basin in New York State.Governor Jon Corzine declared a state of emergency from the 28th through the 30th. Approximately 1250 homes and businesses in the state were damaged, four were destroyed. Many homes had their basement appliances and furniture ruined. The disaster area declaration made individual and public assistance possible. The entire state of New Jersey was also available for assistance from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Between Mercer and Sussex Counties ten Delaware River bridges operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission were closed. Tolls were suspended on bridges that remained open to ease congestion on the 28th through the 30th. Four bridges were still closed the night of the 29th, three bridges were closed on July 1st, they all were re-opened on the 2nd. Emergency responders told people to not walk into flooded waters because it might contain sewage and other contaminants. Many homes also had oil in their basements from ruptured tanks. There was also concern about persons with individual wells having their drinking water compromised. An explosion of mold and mosquitoes was expected in the wake of the flood. Crops closest to the ground were also impacted by the flood and included cabbage, cucumbers, strawberries, spinach and squash. In Warren County, about 400 homes, businesses and apartments were affected by the flooding and 1300 persons were evacuated from seven riverside municipalities. Three homes and one business were destroyed. Nearly 200 homes suffered major damage. A shelter was opened in Phillipsburg where up to 900 persons were evacuated. In the borough, about a dozen roads were closed and 14 streets near the Delaware River were evacuated. Evacuations also occurred in Belvidere, Harmony, Knowlton, Pohatcong and White Townships. Harmony Township though suffered the worst property damage as one home was literally lifted off its foundation. In Belvidere, water from the Delaware River backed up the Pequest River, which also flooded in the borough. Flood waters reached into the first floor of some homes. The water treatment plant in Hackettstown was closed because of the flooding. Major U.S. Route 46 was closed from exit four of Interstate 80 in Knowlton Township to its intersection with County Route 519 in White Township. Beaches at the Delaware River Water Gap National Recreational Area were closed for three weeks. The Delaware River at Tocks Island was above its 21 foot flood stage from 906 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 1043 a.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 33.87 feet at 915 a.m. EDT on the 29th, the second highest crest on record. Farther downstream at Belvidere, the Delaware River was above its 22 foot flood stage from 1145 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 303 a.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 27.16 feet at 1130 a.m. EDT on the 29th, the fourth highest crest on record. Farther downstream at Phillipsburg, the Delaware River was above its 22 foot flood stage from 830 p.m. EDT on the 27th through 703 p.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 37.09 feet at 1215 p.m. EDT on the 29th, the fourth highest crest on record. Actual storm rainfall totals included: 6.50 inches in Columbia, 5.66 inches in Phillipsburg/Easton and 3.10 inches in Belvidere.

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 Jun 27, 2:30 PM EST, 5 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 27, 2:30 PM EST, 5 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
330 PM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
MUCH OF THE DAY SPENT REFINING THE POTENTIAL FLOODING SITUATION
ACROSS CWA. THE FLOOD WATCHES WILL REMAIN AS EARLIER POSTED. TODAY
IS A CASE WHERE MORE INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THE DIFFERENT
PRODUCTS BEING ISSUED TODAY, SO NOT SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS
DISCUSSION. TROPICAL FEED CONTINUES AND WE AWAIT THE REMNANTS OFTHE
LOW MOVING ONSHORE IN NC. UPPER FLOW HAS NO WHERE FOR THE SYSTEM TO
GO EXCEPT THROUGH OUR CWA. THE CONVECTION FROM THE APPROACHING FRONT
AND THE TROP FEED WILL RAIN THEMSELVES OUT OVER OUR CFW.

MAIN CONCERN WILL BE WITH SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STREAMS THAT
FLOOD QUICKLY. WITH THE GROUND SATURATED AND THE RIVERS RUNNING
HIGH, THIS NEW HEAVY RAIN EVENT MAY CAUSE SOME TO COME OUT OF THEIR
BANKS DURING THE LATE NIGHT HOURS. THE NIGHTTIME MAKES THE SITUATION
FAR WORSE ESPECIALLY IF ANY RESCUES/SEARCHES ARE NECESSARY. SO
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF
YOU LIVE NEAR A STREAM. LATEST THINKING IS 3.5 INCHES OVER A WIDE
AREA AND PERHAPS SOME ISOLATED SPOTS IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES.
CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN
ESPECIALLY IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS. AS A RESULT, FLOODING WILL
CERTAINLY OCCUR ON THE SMALL FLASHY STREAMS.

NOTE...OUR WEB SITE HAS BEEN OVERLOADED DUE TO THE WEATHER SO PLEASE
HAVE PATIENCE WHEN GETTING THE INFORMATION, OR TUNE TO THE NOAA
WEATHER RADIO.

THANKS TO ALL EOC/OEMS FOR THEIR INPUT TODAY AND FOR THE
COORDINATION FROM SURROUNDING WFOS AND THE MARFC.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
THE SHORT TERM TO SPILL INTO THE LONG TERM AS REGION CONTINUES UNDER
DEEP TROUGH INITIALLY THEN BROAD CYCLONIC FLOW INTO THE WEEKEND.
RESULT WILL BE OCNL SHOWERS/CHC OF TSTMS THROUGH THE PERIOD. NOT
ANTICIPATING MUCH CHANGE FROM GUID FOR TEMPERATURES.

&&

.AVIATION...
PREDOMINATELY MVFR CIGS AND P6SM VSBYS WORKING WELL WITH THE CURRENT
SITUATION. TEMPO GROUPS FOR LOWER VSBYS FOR AREAS THAT SEEM TO HAVE
PERSISTENT SHOWERS (KABE AND KRDG). CONDITIONS DETERIORATE OVERNIGHT
WITH APPROACH OF LOW CENTER. IFR CONDITIONS ONCE THE RAINS BEGINS.
WINDS SWITCH AROUND FROM E OR SE TO SW TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

&&

.MARINE...
IN COORDINATIONS WITH AKQ, WE HAVE RAISED THE GALE FLAG FOR GUSTS
ALONG THE SOUTHERN NJ WATERS AND DE BAY. MODELS NOT PERFECT WITH THE
WIND SPEEDS WITH THE SYSTEM AND HIGHER THAN GUIDANCE WINDS SEEM THE
WAY TO GO WITH THIS ONE. SCA WILL REMAIN ALONG THE UPPER NJ COAST
FOR NOW, BUT WILL ADVISE THE NEXT SHIFT TO WATCH THINGS THERE.
CONDITIONS IMPROVE ONCE THE LOW MOVES AWAY WED AFTERNOON.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
SEE OVERVIEW AND STATEMENTS.

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ... FOR PAZ069>071 FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO NOON WEDNESDAY.
NJ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NJZ001-007>010-012>027 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ... FOR NJZ016>019-021-023 FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO NOON WEDNESDAY.
DE... FOR DEZ001>003 FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO NOON WEDNESDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR DEZ001>004 UNTIL 8 AM WEDNESDAY.
MD...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FOR MDZ008-012-015-019-020 FROM 10 PM
     TUESDAY TO 2 PM WEDNESDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MDZ008-012-015-019-020 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
MARINE...GALE WARNING FOR ANZ430-431-453>455 UNTIL NOON WEDNESDAY.
  ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ANZ450>452 UNTIL 8 PM WEDNESDAY.
&&

OVERVIEW/SHORT TERM...EBERWINE
LONG TERM...GIGI
MARINE/AVIATION...OHARA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 27, 9:51 AM EST, 9 hours 39 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1051 AM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

ANZ430-431-450>455-470-DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-
007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-281000-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO GREAT EGG INLET NJ OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM GREAT EGG INLET TO CAPE MAY NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE MAY NJ TO CAPE HENLOPEN DE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE HENLOPEN TO FENWICK ISLAND DE OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK ISLAND DE FROM 20 TO 40 NM-
NEW CASTLE-KENT DE-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-
QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-
SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-
GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-
ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-
COASTAL OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-
NORTHAMPTON-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-
1051 AM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, THE NORTHERN MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE AND
NEW JERSEY, EXCLUDING THE FIVE NORTHEAST COUNTIES.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE
ENTIRE AREA. PLEASE REFER TO WGUS61 FOR FURTHER DETAILS. MINOR TIDAL
FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE HIGH TIDES TODAY AND TONIGHT IN
CHESAPEAKE BAY. MINOR TIDAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE HIGH
TIDE TONIGHT IN DELAWARE BAY AND ALONG TIDAL SECTIONS OF THE
DELAWARE RIVER.

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED OUR AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK
FOR SEVERE WEATHER FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. WHILE THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY WILL BE FAIRLY SCATTERED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, ANY
STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS OR PERHAPS A
BRIEF TORNADO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AS THE DAY
CONTINUES ON WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS MIGHT APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS
ON WEDNESDAY. NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED IN THE REST
OF THE OUTLOOK PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE. DAILY AND STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION
REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED.

OHARA

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 27, 4:54 PM EST, 2 hours 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
554 PM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

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

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      7 NE JIM THORPE         40.94N 75.64W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            113 4-H CAMPERS WERE EVACUATED IN HICKORY RUN STATE PARK
            DUE TO FLOODING.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 NW ALLENTOWN          40.63N 75.52W
06/27/2006                   LEHIGH             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WATER STREET FLOODED IN WHITE HALL TOWNSHIP.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      JIM THORPE              40.87N 75.74W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERE FLOODING IN JIM THORPE.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      10 NE JIM THORPE        40.97N 75.60W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            BRIDGE DAMAGE REPORTED ON ROUTE 534 IN KIDDER TOWNSHIP.
            FLOODED ROADS REPORTED AROUND KIDDER TOWNSHIP.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 NE JIM THORPE         40.92N 75.67W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODED ROADS REPORTED IN PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP.

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HAMBURG                 40.56N 75.98W
06/27/2006                   BERKS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HOMES ARE FLOODED ON THE FIRST FLOOR IN TILDEN TOWNSHIP.

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      READING                 40.34N 75.93W
06/27/2006                   BERKS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING REPORTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SIXTH AND SPRING
            STREETS AT THE SPRING STREET SUBWAY.

&&

MEOLA

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Warren

When: June 27, 7:30 PM EST to June 30, 6:03 PM EST
Where: Warren County, Millbrook
Property damage: $15 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.857, -74.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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

Every storm in New Jersey in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in New Jersey, June 2006

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: 5518469.