Several waves of low pressure rode along a slow moving cold front approaching the area on July 23. A tropical airmass was already in place across the local area from Tropical Storm Cristobal which passed by to our east the previous day.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.
Several waves of low pressure rode along a slow moving cold front approaching the area on July 23. A tropical airmass was already in place across the local area from Tropical Storm Cristobal which passed by to our east the previous day. The combination of these systems interacting with this airmass led to torrential rainfall and flash flooding.
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 New York, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 23, 3:20 PM EST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY
420 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE TRI-STATE AREA
THIS EVENING WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN ADVANCE OF
IT. THE FRONT WILL THEN SLOWLY PUSH ACROSS THE REGION ON THURSDAY
WITH HEAVY..POTENTIALLY FLOODING...RAINFALL. DRY WEATHER RETURNS AS
THE FRONT WILL BE EAST OF THE REGION BY FRIDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT/...
HAVE TO BE SHORT TODAY DUE TO DIVERSE WX EVENT.
DESPITE THE CLOUD COVER...ATMOSPHERE VERY UNSTABLE WITH 1000-1500
J/KG OF ML CAPE. THE MOST UNSTABLE AREA IS OVER CENTRAL NJ WHERE
TEMPS ARE NOW APPROACHING 90.
SHEAR IS VERY IMPRESSIVE AND THE THREAT FOR TORNADIC STORMS IS
HIGH AS 0-1 KM HELICITY IS NEAR 150 M2/S2. LCL HEIGHT IS
LOW...WHICH IS ANOTHER CLASSIC TORNADO INDICATOR.
SVR WATCH OUT UNTIL 02Z FOR ENTIRE AREA. STORMS OVER EASTERN LI
AND SE CT WERE PULSE IN NATURE WITH ELEVATED CORES WITH WEAK
ROTATION. EXPECT STORMS COMING OUT OF NJ TO HAVE BETTER ROTATION.
&&
.SHORT TERM /MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
FOLLOWED GFS SOLUTION HERE BASED ON RECOMMENDATION FROM HPC.
LOOKS LIKE HEAVIEST PCPN FOCUS IN ON THE AM IN THE NYC METRO AS
FRONT PRESSES A LITTLE FAST TO THE EAST THAN PREVIOUSLY
ANTICIPATED.
HAVE ADDED ALL AREAS TO THE FLOOD WATCH AND SPLIT UP THE END
TIMES.
SEE HYDRO SECTION BELOW.
HAVE GONE WITH COOLER ETA/FWC MOS FOR TEMPS ON THURSDAY.
PROBABLY A LITTLE SLOW IN ENDING THE PCPN THURSDAY NIGHT.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE LONG TERM. CONUS
PATTERN WILL CONSIST OF TROUGHING IN THE NW AND NE WITH RIDGING IN
THE CENTER PART OF THE COUNTRY.
CLOSED UPPER LOW WILL LIFT INTO SOUTHEASTERN CANADA WITH COLD FRONT
EXPECTED TO BE JUST EAST OF THE AREA BY FRI MORNING. DRY CONDITIONS
RETURN ON FRI...BUT MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE FORECASTING THE UPPER
SYSTEM TO BECOME ABSORBED INTO ANOTHER LONG WAVE TROUGH DROPPING OUT
OF CENTRAL CANADA THIS WEEKEND. THIS TOO IS FORECAST TO CLOSE OFF
ALOFT WITH A COLD FRONT SLOWLY APPROACHING SAT NIGHT AND SUN. FRONT
WILL CLEAR THE AREA ON MON...BUT UPPER TROUGH WITH VORT MAXES
SWINGING THROUGH FROM TIME TO TIME WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE NE INTO
THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL KEEP THE CHC OF SHOWERS AND
TSTMS IN THE FORECAST (ALTHOUGH TUE LOOKS CAPPED) THROUGH MUCH OF
THE PERIOD. ECMWF IS FLATTER AND SLOWER THAN THE GFS WHICH IS
PREFERRED BY HPC...SO LEANED MORE TOWARDS HPC GUIDANCE/ECMWF.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
BREAK IN THE VCTS NYC TERMINALS ATTM. TSTMS MAY DEVELOP
THIS AFTN ACROSS NJ AND TRACK NE INTO THE REGION. +SHRA IS
POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY THU MORNING AND AFTN WITH TSRA. MVFR/VFR
CIGS TODAY THEN POSSIBLY LOWER IN WEATHER. STRONG WINDS ABV THE
SFC DEVELOP WITH GUSTS IN TSTMS.
VEERING WINDS THIS AFTN WITH INLAND HEATING AND NRN MOVEMENT OF
THE SFC BOUNDARY.
OUTLOOK FOR 18Z THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...LOW MVFR TO IFR
CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ONGOING
AFTER 18Z THURSDAY. CONDITIONS MAY IMPROVE LATE THURSDAY INTO
THURSDAY NIGHT AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. SOME
UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE TIMING OF THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT. VFR
CONDITIONS LATE THURSDAY NIGHT CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY. A COLD
FRONT APPROACHES LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY WITH LOCAL MVFR
CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
&&
.MARINE...
WINDS AND SEAS WILL BUILD RAPIDLY OVERNIGHT AS WINDS INCREASE FROM
THE SOUTH. SCA WILL BE EXPANDED TO OTHER AREAS AS A RESULT.
WAVEWATCH III GUIDANCE WAS UNDER CUT SIGNIFICANTLY.
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN ON FRIDAY RESULTING IN TRANQUIL
CONDITIONS.
(FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY)...
WIND GUSTS ON THE OCEAN MAY REACH MARGINAL SCA LEVELS AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE SAT NIGHT...OTHERWISE...SEAS WILL LIKELY REMAIN
ABOVE SCA LEVELS IN ANZ350 AND ANZ353 THROUGH THE WEEKEND. TRANQUIL
CONDITIONS SHOULD RETURN ON MONDAY. NO PROBLEMS EXPECTED ON THE
REMAINDER OF THE MARINE ZONES.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
FLASH FLOODING WATCH UP THROUGH THURSDAY.
EXPECTING OVERALL AVERAGES OF 3 TO 4 INCHES. TRAINING OF ECHOES IS
THE CONCERN AND WHERE THIS OCCURS...WILL NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE
6+ INCHES.
RATES IN THE STORMS WILL EASILY EXCEED 4-6 INCHES INSTANTANEOUSLY...WITH
HOURLY TOTALS LIKELY IN THE 1.5-3 INCH RANGE. THUS...URBAN
FLOODING LIKELIHOOD IS VERY HIGH.
NYC AND WEST SHOULD SEE THE HEAVIEST IN THE OVERNIGHT INTO THE
EARLY MORNING...WITH RAIN TAPERING OFF OR ENDING BY AFTERNOON.
&&
.EQUIPMENT...
ON JULY 28TH...MARINE OBSERVATIONS FROM AMBROSE LIGHT TOWER WILL
BE DECOMMISSIONED.
&&
.OKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR CTZ005>012.
NY...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR NYZ077>081.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR NYZ067>076.
NJ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR NJZ002>006-
011.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT
THURSDAY FOR ANZ330-335-338-340-345.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR ANZ350-353-355.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JST
NEAR TERM...JST
SHORT TERM...JST
LONG TERM...AL
AVIATION...JMC
MARINE...AL/JST
HYDROLOGY...JST
EQUIPMENT...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 448 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 NJZ002>006-011-NYZ067>076-241100- WESTERN PASSAIC-BERGEN-EASTERN PASSAIC-ESSEX-HUDSON-UNION-ORANGE- PUTNAM-ROCKLAND-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER- NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)-KINGS (BROOKLYN)- QUEENS- 448 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 738 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AT THIS TIME FOR BOTH SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING REPORTS. && THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS WARNING CRITERIA. CTZ005>012-NYZ077>081-241100- NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX- NORTHERN NEW LONDON-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN- SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX-SOUTHERN NEW LONDON-NASSAU-NORTHWESTERN SUFFOLK- NORTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK- 448 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 738 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING...ALONG WITH THE SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AS A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT CROSSES THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AT THIS TIME FOR BOTH SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING REPORTS. && THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS WARNING CRITERIA. ANZ330-335-338-340-345-350-353-355-241100- LONG ISLAND SOUND EAST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY- LONG ISLAND SOUND WEST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY- NEW YORK HARBOR-PECONIC AND GARDINERS BAYS- SOUTH SHORE BAYS FROM JONES INLET THROUGH SHINNECOCK BAY- MORICHES INLET NY TO MONTAUK POINT NY OUT 20 NM- FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO MORICHES INLET NY OUT 20 NM- SANDY HOOK NJ TO FIRE ISLAND INLET NY OUT 20 NM- 448 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 738 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE GALE FORCE WIND GUSTS ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY AS A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT CROSSES THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT SEVERE WIND GUSTS AND ANY SIGHTINGS OF WATERSPOUTS. && THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING CRITERIA. MOST LONG FUSED NWS WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS WARNING CRITERIA. JST
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 303 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 CTZ008-231930- NORTHERN NEW LONDON- 303 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN NEW LONDON COUNTY... AT 300 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PRESTON...OR 7 MILES EAST OF NORWICH...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 31 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. JC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 445 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 NJZ004>006-011-232130- EASTERN PASSAIC-ESSEX-HUDSON-UNION- 445 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT ESSEX...HUDSON...PASSAIC AND UNION COUNTIES... AT 442 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SOUTH PLAINFIELD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 18 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. DSW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 529 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 NJZ003>005-NYZ069-232215- BERGEN-EASTERN PASSAIC-ESSEX-ROCKLAND- 529 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT BERGEN...ESSEX...PASSAIC AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES... AT 528 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BLOOMFIELD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 28 MPH. SMALL HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO AN INCH AN HOUR...IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. THIS COULD CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS... AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. DSW
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY
545 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1124 AM FLASH FLOOD WANTAGH 40.67N 73.51W
07/23/2008 NASSAU NY TRAINED SPOTTER
RAILROAD UNDERPASS AT OLD MILL ROAD UNDER 5 INCHES OF
WATER.
0230 PM TSTM WND DMG WESTBROOK 41.28N 72.45W
07/23/2008 MIDDLESEX CT LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND WIRES DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF RUNNING PINE ROAD
AND COLD SPRING ROAD.
0230 PM TSTM WND DMG EAST HADDAM 41.46N 72.46W
07/23/2008 MIDDLESEX CT LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND WIRES DOWN AT MATING HOUSE ROAD.
0240 PM TSTM WND GST NORWICH 41.55N 72.09W
07/23/2008 E60.00 MPH NEW LONDON CT UNKNOWN
FEW TREES DOWN ON DUNHAM ST.
0508 PM LIGHTNING UNION 40.70N 74.27W
07/23/2008 UNION NJ EMERGENCY MNGR
LARGE TREE DOWN AND COVERING ROAD FROM LIGHTNING STRIKE
AT LARGEMONT AND MORRIS AVE.
&&
TMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 649 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 NJZ003-005-006-011-NYZ071>074-076-232330- BERGEN-BRONX-ESSEX-HUDSON-NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-QUEENS-RICHMOND (STATEN IS.)-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER-UNION- 649 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT BRONX...EASTERN UNION...HUDSON... NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)...QUEENS...RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)... SOUTHEASTERN BERGEN...SOUTHERN ESSEX AND SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER COUNTIES... AT 646 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ELIZABETH...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 27 MPH. SMALL HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. IN ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO AN INCH AN HOUR...IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. DSW
The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:01 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Short Hills Ave. in Millburn was closed due to flooding. Water also covered the Railroad tracks suspending service.
Many streets were flooded in Fort Lee. Some of these streets were impassable.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Jersey in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, July 2008
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: 127143, 125247.