45K Without Power, Roads, Schools Closed As Storm Batters NJ

NEW JERSEY — Heavy rain continues to soak New Jersey on Monday causing flooding, road closures, and school delays.

"Flooding is ongoing in several areas this morning with 2 to 5 inches of rain reported so far. DO NOT drive through flooded roadways or go around barricades where roads are closed. The rain will taper off later this morning into the afternoon," said US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly.

So far as of 5:30 a.m., Morris County reported being hit the hardest in terms of rainfall amounts. Long Valley reported 5.48 inches.

Keyport in Monmouth County reported just below 5 inches of rain this morning. Other areas of the state reported amounts around 3 to 4 inches.

And more rain, about one to two more inches, is expected to continue to fall before tapering off around 1 p.m.

A flood watch remains in effect for most of the state through 6 p.m. on Monday. A flash flood watch has also been issued in Union County through 10:45 a.m.

The excessive rain has caused flooding to many area rivers and creeks prompting road closures and delays for school buses and morning commuters.

Major flooding is being reported at the Saddle River at Ridgewood which is at 7.8 feet high. Several other rivers including the Lamington (Black) River at Burnt Mills is at the moderate flooding stage and approaching the major flooding stage.

Major highways such as Interstate 78 in Union County, Route 22 in Somerset and Union Counties, Route 33 in Monmouth County, Interstate 80 in Hackensack, and Route 1&9 in Palisades Park are all experiencing closures due to flooding, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation's 511NJ website.

"Warning: Several inches of flooding in multiple parts of the state. Check your route before your morning commute, don’t drive through standing water, and don’t touch downed wires. Remember: Turn around, don’t drown," said Gov. Phil Murphy on X.

The storm also brought gusty winds of up to 50 mph causing roughly 45,000 people in New Jersey to lose power.

"The center of this zone of low pressure is expected to reach the mid-Atlantic coast by early Monday morning, but gusty winds will blast the coast along the northern edge of the storm. Wind gusts can range from 40-50 mph from areas of eastern Virginia through far eastern Pennsylvania to western Maine as the storm advances northward through Monday evening," according to AccuWeather.

JCP&L is reported about 30,000 customers are without power and PSE&G is reporting about 15,000. Monmouth County has the largest amount of outages with 13,000 without power.

In Somerset County, one school in Basking Ridge had a delayed opening due to a power outage.

Green Brook issued a State of Emergency for its town prompting all schools in the township to close on Monday.

In Essex County, South Orange-Maplewood also issued a 4-hour delay opening.

Take a look at the upcoming weather:

North Jersey

Monday: Showers, mainly before 1pm. Temperature falling to around 46 by 1 p.m. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Central Jersey

Monday: Rain, mainly before 1 p.m. Temperature falling to around 48 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

South Jersey

Monday: Showers, mainly before 2 p.m. Temperature falling to around 49 by 5pm. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west 20 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.