Flooding woes continue in N.J. towns as Passaic River keeps rising, more rain on the way

Substantial flooding took place overnight in Little Falls, including on William Street, where there appears to be at least a foot of water on some parts of the street.

Residents who live near the Passaic River finally got a break from Mother Nature, with no rain for nearly three straight days. However, their woes continued Friday as heavy runoff from Tuesday’s relentless downpours kept pouring into the river, which continued to rise and flood neighborhoods.

As expected, substantial flooding occurred in Little Falls overnight and into Friday morning. On William Street, about a foot of water covered parts of the road Friday morning.

There was also a slippery sheen of ice on sidewalks, with the temperature hovering near the freezing mark at 7 a.m. Many residents said they were coping after multiple rounds of flooding in recent weeks and years.

Substantial flooding took place overnight in Little Falls, including on William Street, where there appears to be at least a foot of water on some parts of the street.

As bad as the flooding was Friday morning, it could get even worse this weekend — with another storm system on the way that’s expected to drop another inch of rain, and possibly more in some spots.

Substantial flooding took place overnight in Little Falls, including on William Street, where there appears to be at least a foot of water on some parts of the street.

Multiple flood warnings for sections of the Passaic River in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties have been extended until further notice because forecasters from the National Weather Service are projecting the river will remain at or near major flood stage with the new rain and runoff.

Almost the entire state is also under a flood watch Friday night and early Saturday because of the threat of flash flooding and new flooding along swollen rivers, streams and creeks. Coastal flood warnings and advisories have been issued for areas along the Jersey Shore, tidal Delaware Bay and tidal Barnegat Bay.

A house surrounded by water on the banks of the Passaic River in Little Falls on Thursday, Jan. 11, two days after a powerful storm dumped heavy rain on the region.

In addition, a high wind warning has been issued for coastal sections of Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties, effective from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. Southeast winds of 30 to 40 mph will be blowing, with gusts of 50 to 60 mph expected.

Cars are partially submerged in flood water on River Street in Paterson at about 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, two days after a powerful storm dumped heavy rain on the region.

Interior sections of the Garden State are under a wind advisory, with southwest winds 20 to 30 mph forecast, with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph.

Residents were also still dealing with flooding Friday morning in Wayne, where people on Ryerson Avenue were wading through icy waters to get to work or go to the supermarket.

Sometimes, they called for help. Wayne police officers were standing by at the top of Ryerson Avenue with a 5-ton truck that can wade through the high water to pick people up.

Izzy Ismail, 35, lives with his mother and grandmother on Ryerson Avenue. “They haven’t left the house in two or three days,” he said. But on Friday morning, Ismail had to get to work. So he wrapped his feet in garbage bags and stood in the icy waters.

A man wades through the cold water on Ryerson Avenue in Wayne Friday morning, three days after a powerful storm dumped heavy rain on the region. More rain is on the way Friday night.

Then, he waited for the Wayne rescue truck to pick him up and ferry him to dry land.

”You gotta do what you gotta do,” said Ismail, who works at a nearby deli. “These garbage bags worked pretty good.”

Ismail said he’s lived in the neighborhood for eight months and this is his second flood. He’s had enough. “I’m definitely moving,” he said.

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Richard Cowen may be reached at [email protected].

Len Melisurgo may be reached at [email protected].

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