03.13.11

Update on Passaic River Flooding

Posted in Weather News at 8:00 am by Rebekah

The Passaic River, in northern New Jersey, reached peak flood stage last night. The river gauge at Little Falls, New Jersey, recorded the 5th highest flood peak since records began.

Here are a couple of hydrographs from the Passaic River when it was near peak.

Little Falls (click to enlarge; click here to view the latest hydrograph and info for this station):

Pine Brook (click to enlarge; click here to view the latest hydrograph and info for this station):

Many other rivers in the Northeast rose quite a bit as well, forcing hundreds of people from their homes. The flood waters in some parts of northern New Jersey are not expected to recede for a few days.

The rivers have been rising as a result of heavy rains recently, on top of snow that is melting with more springlike temperatures. Much of the area affected should be rain-free for a little while now, though, and the river levels have already begun to drop.

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