Don't Get Caught In A Flooded Roadway This Weekend, Police Warn

With South Jersey expected to be covered in water this weekend, police have issued some tips for avoiding disaster on a flooded roadway.

A Nor’easter is possible for New Jersey this weekend, and the National Weather Service out of Mount Holly has issued a Flash Flood Watch. Here’s the forecast for Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 73. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northeast wind 14 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.

“Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard,” police said in a statement late Friday morning. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters.”

Patch file photo