Bethlehem Township receives record 5.75 inches as North Jersey storms cause widespread flooding
Heavy rain from back‑to‑back storms on July 29‑30, 2026 drenched northern New Jersey, with Bethlehem Township measuring a peak of 5.75 inches. Nearby counties in the north received 3‑5 inches, while the southern part of the state stayed mostly dry. The deluge triggered flash flooding, prompting water rescues in Hawthorne—where fire crews reported 17 rescues as Goffle Brook overflowed—and in Paterson, where Mayor Andre Sayegh said more than 20 people were pulled from rising waters.
Tree damage was widespread: a large tree collapsed onto a home on Susan Avenue in Midland Park, destroying part of the roof, a deck, a fence and two cars, and another tree fell on a residence in Haworth, cutting power and gas. A lightning strike hit a man on Hoffman Station Road in Monroe, and a separate incident saw a manhole cover blow off in Paterson. No tornadoes were confirmed, and forecasters later indicated that additional severe weather was unlikely, with only spotty showers expected in the following days.
Entities: André Sayegh · Bethlehem Township · Dan Zarrow · Hawthorne, New Jersey · Paterson, New Jersey
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Parts of northern New Jersey received 3 to 5 inches of rain. (Nearby counties in the north received 3‑5 inches)
- [● 2 SOURCES] A man was struck by lightning on Hoffman Station Road in Monroe (Middlesex). (lightning strike hit a man on Hoffman Station Road in Monroe)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Forecasters said additional severe weather was unlikely after the storms. (forecasters later indicated that additional severe weather was unlikely)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Flash flooding in Hawthorne led fire crews to conduct 17 water rescues. (flash flooding, prompting water rescues in Hawthorne—where fire crews reported 17 rescues)
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 20 people were rescued from floodwaters in Paterson. (Mayor Andre Sayegh said more than 20 people were pulled from rising waters)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Bethlehem Township recorded 5.75 inches of rain during the storm. (Heavy rain from back‑to‑back storms on July 29‑30, 2026 drenched northern New Jersey, with Bethlehem Township measuring)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A tree fell on a home on Susan Avenue in Midland Park, damaging roof, deck, fence and two cars. (tree collapsed onto a home on Susan Avenue in Midland Park, destroying part of the roof, a deck, a fence and two cars)
- [● 2 SOURCES] No tornadoes were confirmed in New Jersey during the storm. (No tornadoes were confirmed)