BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Another round of heavy rain heads for Bergen County Thursday, with the National Weather Service issuing a flood watch as North Jersey continues to contend with an unusually wet and stormy summer.
The flood watch takes effect at 2 p.m. Thursday and included Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Union and Hudson counties. Forecasters warn that showers and thunderstorms could produce intense rainfall, with rates approaching 2 inches per hour during the heaviest downpours.
An average of 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain is expected, with higher amounts possible in some locations. The rainfall could lead to excessive runoff and flooding along rivers, creeks and streams, as well as in low-lying, flood-prone and poorly drained areas.
National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Lee urges residents to remain alert as conditions could change quickly during the heaviest storms.
The latest threat comes after a summer that has already brought repeated flooding to Bergen County and other parts of North Jersey.
In July alone, the National Weather Service issued 57 flash flood warnings across New Jersey, nearly three times the 10-year monthly average of 20.7, according to the New Jersey State Climate Office.
Rainfall totals have also been striking. During a 30-day period beginning July 12, some parts of Bergen County received two to three times the amount of rain typically seen during an entire summer month. Fair Lawn recorded 11.1 inches, River Edge received 10.79 inches, Montvale saw 9.74 inches and Wood-Ridge recorded 9.17 inches. Teterboro Airport recorded 6.72 inches in July, making it the airport's wettest month since August 2024.
The repeated storms have fueled a debate over whether development and aging infrastructure are making flooding worse.
Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali recently pointed to overdevelopment as one contributing factor, arguing that replacing trees, soil and open space with pavement and rooftops leaves less room for stormwater to be absorbed.
State Climatologist John Krasting says development can make runoff worse but cautions that it is only part of the explanation. He attributes much of this summer's flooding to a pattern of slow-moving frontal systems that have repeatedly produced heavy rainfall over the region.
Krasting notes that the increase in heavy precipitation extends beyond New Jersey. Data from the Fifth National Climate Assessment showed that the number of days with more than 2 inches of precipitation at observation stations across the Northeast increased 49% from 1958 to 2022.
“It's getting wetter,” Krasting says, noting that the number of days with heavier rainfall has been increasing.
Thursday's storms are expected to add to that already-saturated summer pattern.
The flood watch remains in effect through late Thursday night. Residents were urged to use caution while driving and never attempt to cross a flooded roadway, as water levels can rise quickly during intense rainfall.
