Storm Floods Toms River Roads: Photos, Video

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Tuesday's severe thunderstorms kept Toms River police and firefighters busy helping stranded motorists and dealing with a fire call at the Ocean County Mall.

The deluge — 3.77 inches of rain fell in Toms River, according to weather data from Rutgers University — not only caused flooding in the usual low-lying areas around the township, but flooded a few other spots as well.

At the height of the storm, Water Street in downtown Toms River was under water in front of Toms River Fire Company 2 near Irons Street, a spot that routinely floods during storms, readers told Patch. Route 37 flooded in the area of the Coolidge and Garfield jughandles. Vaughn Avenue flooded.

And Route 35 on the barrier island was flooded from Brick all the way to Seaside Heights, with vehicles traveling single-file on the crown of the road.

The issue at Ocean County Mall, which was closed as a result, was smoke caused by water that got into the electrical system, according to a report by Jersey Shore Online.

Take a look at some of the photos from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, Ocean County Scanner News 2, and Exit 82 Scanner News, both of which report information from radio scanners on Facebook.

Video from Joe Valerie shows vehicles traveling down the middle of Route 35 on the barrier island surrounded by muddy water.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning that is in effect until 8:30 p.m.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office is urging motorists to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

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Main photo: Hyers Street, seen from the parking lot at Nancy's Midtown Cafe (see the mural on the right side of the photo) via the Ocean County Sheriff's Office. Photo of Yellowbank Drive at Fischer Boulevard by Ocean County Scanner News 2, published with permission; Photo of Vaughn Avenue flooding by Laurie Guenther-Navarra published with permission