Wildfire, Morris
- When
- March 18, 5:00 PM EST to March 19, 11:00 AM EST
- Where
- Morris forecast zone
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 40.862, -74.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Wildfire in New Jersey, March 18 to 19, 2009
A brush fire caused by a downed utility line damaged 150 acres of Troy Meadows wetlands from the night of the 18th into the morning of the 19th. 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
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 brush fire caused by a downed utility line damaged 150 acres of Troy Meadows wetlands from the night of the 18th into the morning of the 19th. The fire was reported shortly after 6 p.m. EST along the Parsippany and Hanover municipal border, across Troy Road from the Hanover Sewerage Authority. An east wind helped fuel the blaze through open fields in Parsippany and East Hanover. As the fire spread through dry grass and weeds and sent up a thick column of smoke, state firefighters and local fire departments worked through the night plowing dirt perimeters to contain the blaze. Houses about half a mile away from the blaze on South Beverwyck Road were not threatened. The fire was reported 100 percent contained at 9 a.m. EST on the 19th. The high humidity and showers helped get it under control at noon EST on the 19th. South Beverwyck and Troy Roads were closed due to the fire. No injuries were reported. One household lost power, and Jersey Central Power and Light stopped power to 50 other customers to restore the lines. Most power was restored within 15 minutes. Peak wind gusts at Newark International Airport on both the 18th and 19th were around 25 mph.
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 Mar 18, 2:25 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 2:25 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
325 PM EDT WED MAR 18 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST WILL GRADUALLY DROP
ACROSS THE REGION LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE
WILL THEN BUILD IN FROM THE WEST AND DOMINATE OUR WEATHER THROUGH
THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY/...
THE FRONTAL ZONE TO OUR NORTHWEST WILL DROP INTO OUR AREA BY
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND THEN SLOWLY WORK ITS WAY SOUTHEAST. MOST
OF THE SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE WITH AND BEHIND THE FRONT. SHOWERS
WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS AND WIDESPREAD AFTER MIDNIGHT FROM
NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST AND WILL PROBABLY REACH THE PHILLY METRO
AREA AROUND DAYBREAK. COLDER AIR PUSHING IN BEHIND THE FRONT MAY
ALLOW SOME SNOW TO MIX WITH THE RAIN SHOWERS IN THE POCONOS
TOWARD DAYBREAK, BUT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE FREEZING.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO HEAD SOUTHEAST AND IS EXPECTED TO EXIT
OUR AREA DURING THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE
TAPERING OFF FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST DURING THE AFTERNOON,
BUT COULD LINGER IN OUR EXTREME SOUTHERN AREAS INTO THE EVENING
HOURS. THE RAIN AND SNOW SHOWER MIX IN THE NORTH WILL CONTINUE
THURSDAY MORNING, SINCE TEMPERATURES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO RISE UNTIL
THE SHOWERS END IN THE AFTERNOON. EXPECT HIGH TEMPERATURES TO
RANGE FROM AROUND 40 IN THE POCONOS TO THE MID 50S IN OUR SOUTHERN
AREAS. PARTIAL CLEARING WILL SET IN THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE FRONT
MOVES FARTHER OFF TO THE SOUTHEAST AND HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO NUDGE
IN. THE SHOWERS WILL END IN THE EXTREME SOUTH BY MIDNIGHT. WITH COLD
AIR ADVECTION AND A WAVE DEVELOPING ON THE FRONT OFF THE COAST, SOME
CLOUDINESS WILL HANG TOUGH THROUGH FRIDAY, ESPECIALLY OVER EASTERN
SECTIONS. LOW TEMPERATURES THURSDAY NIGHT WILL RANGE FROM THE
LOW AND MID 20S NORTH TO THE LOW AND MID 30S SOUTH WITH HIGHS FRIDAY
FROM AROUND 40 IN THE POCONOS TO THE MID AND UPPER 40S SOUTH.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION AND DOMINATE
OUR WEATHER THROUGH THE WEEKEND. A DRY BACKDOOR COLD FRONT IS FORECAST
TO DROP ACROSS THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT WITH ANOTHER HIGH HIGH PRESSURE
SYSTEM MOVING IN FOR THE BEGINNING OR NEXT WEEK. A FRONTAL SYSTEM IS
EXPECTED TO APPROACH FROM THE WEST ON WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL OVER THE WEEKEND BUT
WILL BEGIN TO RISE BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
&&
.AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG,
KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
ALL TAFS START OUT AS VFR WITH FEW CLOUDS AND A MODERATE SOUTH TO
SOUTHWEST FLOW. THE FLOW SHOULD DIMINISH SOME TOWARD DUSK. A COLD
FRONT IS PROGGED TO DROP PAST THE NORTHWESTERN TAF SITES DURING THE
OVERNIGHT PERIOD, REACH THE DELAWARE VALLEY SITES AROUND DAYBREAK
GIVE OR TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS, THEN PASS THE SOUTHEASTERN SITES
AFTER DAYBREAK. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE SOME DETERIORATION IN VSBYS
PRIOR TO THE FRONTAL PASSAGE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE DELAWARE VALLEY
SOUTHEAST, THE BULK OF THE LOWER CEILINGS AND VSBYS LOOK TO BE
CONFINED TO THE POST-FRONTAL ENVIRONMENT. THE FRONT ALSO WILL CAUSE
WINDS TO SHIFT TO THE NORTH, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE VERY STRONG. FOR
NOW, WE ARE LIMITING THE DETERIORATION TO THE MVFR CATEGORY.
OUTLOOK...
HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT AND EXTENDS
INTO THE WEEKEND WITH SOME PRETTY NICE VFR WEATHER IN STORE.
&&
.MARINE...
SEAS AT 44009 AND 44065 HAVE BEEN COMING IN AT 4 TO 6 FT WITH
PERIODS THAT OSCILLATE BETWEEN 7 AND 11 SECONDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WELL OUT TO SEA.
WEVE DECIDED TO ISSUE A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS
OVER THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS INSOFAR AS THE FREQUENCY OF THE
WAVES IS A BIT HIGHER THAN EXPECTED. INLETS SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING
SOME ROUGH CONDITIONS ALSO. WE WILL RUN THE ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT
FOR NOW.
SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WELL OUT IN FRONT OF THE ADVANCING COLD
FRONT SHOULD REMAIN JUST BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS, AND THEY MAY WEAKEN
SOME AS THE FRONT DRAWS NEAR LATE TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW. THEY LOOK
LIKE THEY SHOULD PICK UP AGAIN AS THEY SHIFT TO THE NORTH IN THE
WAKE OF THE FRONT, WHICH SHOULD CROSS THE WATERS FROM NORTHWEST TO
SOUTHEAST TOMORROW, AND WE MAY GET SOME OCCASIONAL ADVISORY LEVEL
GUSTS THEN.
IT LOOKS LIKE ANY RAINFALL WILL OCCUR AFTER THE FRONT PASSES.
ONCE THE FRONT MOVES SOUTH LATE THURSDAY, HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD
OVER THE REGION AND LAST INTO THE WEEKEND. LOW PRESSURE MAY FORM ON
THE FRONT WELL TO THE SOUTHEAST ON FRIDAY, AND IT MAY GENERATE
HIGHER SWELLS AGAIN.
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...NONE.
NJ...NONE.
DE...NONE.
MD...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 6 AM EDT
THURSDAY FOR ANZ450>455.
&&
SYNOPSIS...RPW
NEAR TERM...RPW
SHORT TERM...RPW
LONG TERM...RPW
AVIATION...DELISI
MARINE...DELISIHazardous weather outlook, Mar 18, 1:07 PM EST, 3 hours 53 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 207 PM EDT WED MAR 18 2009 DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-067>071-191000- NEW CASTLE-KENT-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- 207 PM EDT WED MAR 18 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL DELAWARE...NORTHERN DELAWARE...SOUTHERN DELAWARE...NORTHEAST MARYLAND...CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY...SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY...EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ450>455-191000- 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- 207 PM EDT WED MAR 18 2009 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ430-431-191000- DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- 207 PM EDT WED MAR 18 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DELAWARE BAY WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Wildfire
- A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
More
Every storm in New Jersey in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, March 2009
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: 151659.