Morning Thunderstorms Impact Region

During the morning hours on June 30, thunderstorms brought torrential rains to Avalon and the surrounding areas of Cape May County and South Jersey, with portions of Dennis Township receiving nearly 6″ of rain. While these storms were not severe in nature they did produce heavy downpours that in some cases continued for lengthy periods of time and cause a Flash Flood Warning to be issued for our area.

A relative lack of rain in recent weeks meant that the ground was too dry to absorb such heavy precipitation,causing it to quickly pool in yards and roadways, flooding many streets and leading to several traffic accidents in the region, especially on the Garden State Parkway, where at least 3 incidents were reported. One reportedly resulted in a pickup truck overturning at exit 9 north and another on the southbound side around mile marker 21. While the direct cause of these accidents is unknown, we would like to remind drivers to please exercise caution and reduce speed during inclement weather, especially with wet roads and reduced visibility.

Additonally, there are reports that the city of Wildwood is experiencing at least one confirmed water main break with rumors of others. While it is not known if this was in any way caused by the storms, it is further compounding the flooding in that town and making driving more hazerdous. Residents of the island are reporting that their water is running brown or in some cases not working at all. There is no current estimate for when water service to Wildwood will return to normal.

The storms should now be wrapping up in our area, which will give the streets a chance to dry out, though the current forecast calls for additional chances for storms this afternoon and this evening with the possibility of more heavy rain, as well as lighting, straight-line winds, small hail, and even a 2% chance of tornadic activity. Make sure you have a weather app on your phone for alerts and use caution if a storm affects your immediate area.