A nor’easter’s heavy rains flooded streets and caused water rescues in northern New Jersey Tuesday morning. The storm is threatening more high water and power outages elsewhere in the Northeast.
As reported by cnn, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in advance late Monday afternoon as the heavy rains were predicted to slam the state with severe thunderstorms and damaging winds.
Our State of Emergency remains in effect as the Nor’easter continues to bring heavy rains and sustained winds.
10 counties are under a Flash Flood Warning and 11 counties are under a Flash Flood Watch.
Please stay safe, stay off the roads, and stay updated. pic.twitter.com/MBxg2bzGyA
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) October 26, 2021
A state of emergency is an official declaration that is used to help respond to hazardous weather conditions or in anticipation of them, according to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.
The National Weather Service said that up to 5 inches of rain had fallen in parts of New Jersey by 11 a.m. ET, flooding some roads, creeks and streams.
Due to the nor´easter, Gov. Phil Murphy delayed the opening of state government offices until 11 a.m. to allow workers ample time to arrive.
To stay off the roads
Murphy stated that the storm is forecasted to bring significant flash flooding, coastal flooding, and wind gusts across New Jersey. Residents should stay off the roads, remain vigilant, and follow all safety protocols.”
“If you’re out on our roads and come across a flooded section, please just turn around, don’t go ahead. Sadly, we lost too many people in Ida who went ahead,” Murphy told reporters Tuesday morning.
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The Governor encouraged residents to visit ready.nj.gov for weather updates and safety information.
Flash flood watches affected eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and parts of New York and southern New England, with rain expected into Tuesday evening or early Wednesday.
What is a nor´easter?
A nor’easter is a storm along the East Coast with winds typically coming from the northeast, according to the National Weather Service. The storms are most common between September and April.
In winter, temperatures associated with a nor’easter can be much more extreme than in the fall, which can lead to more intense storms and snow. The storms can cause beach erosion and rough ocean conditions, with winds of 58 mph or more.