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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]
2 clusters · 11 sources · 2 days · First seen · Last updated
Categories: INTERNATIONAL
Northern New Jersey flash flood events
Entities: Paterson, New Jersey · Hawthorne, New Jersey · André Sayegh · Paterson · Mount Holly National Weather Service
Overview
In late July 2026 the National Weather Service issued a flash‑flood watch for the Philadelphia metro area and northern New Jersey, forecasting 2–3 inches per hour along I‑78/I‑80. The storms on July 28‑29 produced torrential rain that overflowed Goffle Brook in Hawthorne and caused a road collapse in Paterson, prompting rescues of more than 20 residents. Power outages affected thousands and several roads were closed.
The next day, back‑to‑back storms dumped a record 5.75 inches in Bethlehem Township and 3‑5 inches across neighboring counties. Flash‑flood rescues continued, with fire crews reporting 17 pulls in Hawthorne and additional evacuations in Paterson. Tree damage was extensive, including a large tree that fell on a home on Susan Avenue in Midland Park and another on a residence in Haworth, cutting power and gas. A lightning strike hit a motorist on Hoffman Station Road, and a manhole cover was blown off in Paterson. No tornadoes were confirmed.
New details emerged: a 32‑year‑old man was killed by lightning in Monroe Township, and two children went missing after entering the Passaic River, prompting water searches with boats and drones. Reported power outages rose to about 500,000 customers, with roughly 50,000 still without electricity. New Jersey’s Emergency Operations Center was activated and mutual‑aid crews from Canada and other U.S. states were deployed to assist with power restoration and damage assessment. Forecasters later expected only isolated showers.
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 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)
- [● 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] 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)
- [● 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] 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)
- [● 2 SOURCES] No tornadoes were confirmed in New Jersey during the storm. (No tornadoes were confirmed)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Forecasters said additional severe weather was unlikely after the storms. (forecasters later indicated that additional severe weather was unlikely)
- [● 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)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A Flash Flood Watch was in effect across the Philadelphia metropolitan area and points north from 8 a.m. Tuesday through 2 p.m. Wednesday south of I‑78 and through 8 p.m. Wednesday north of I‑78. (fda79700-ef86-4d0c-bf90-da2aefd9e996)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rainfall rates could reach 2 to 3 inches per hour, creating potential for rapid flash flooding in urban areas and small waterways. (National Weather Service in Mount Holly)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Severe thunderstorms were expected across southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and the Delmarva region, with possible damaging wind gusts, tornadoes and lightning. (National Weather Service in Mount Holly)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Two consecutive days of torrential rain caused Goffle Brook to overflow and flood roads in New Jersey. (Eyewitness reports)
Timeline
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about 20 hours ago
[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sourcesBethlehem Township receives record 5.75 inches as North Jersey storms cause widespread floodingNorth Jersey storms dumped up to 5.75 inches in Bethlehem Township, causing flash floods, rescues, tree damage and lightning strikes; no tornadoes were confirmed and further severe weather is unlikely.
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2 days ago
[INTERNATIONAL] 8 sourcesNew Jersey flash flood watch triggers deaths, rescues and storm damageFlash Flood Watch across NJ/PA brings heavy rain, lightning deaths, power outages and rescues, including a fatal strike in Monroe and missing children in the Passaic River.
Sources
1057thehawk.com · 6abc.com · abc7ny.com · allblogthings.com · countryherald.com · diningandcooking.com · gloucestercitynews.net · mybeachradio.com · nj1015.com · radiofg.com · tvtonight.com.au
This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history