NEW JERSEY — Thousands of homes and businesses were without power Sunday morning as heavy rain swept across New Jersey, triggering flash flood warnings and threatening roads, streams, underpasses and low-lying communities across the state and Philadelphia region.
Heavy rain is expected across parts of New Jersey this morning, with the potential for flash flooding.
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) September 13, 2026
Monitor your local forecast, pay attention to emergency alerts, and use extra caution on the roads. Never attempt to drive through flooded roadways.
Stay safe, New Jersey.
More than 5,600 New Jersey utility customers were reported without electricity at around 7:50 a.m. on Sunday, September 13. More than 2,000 PSE&G customers in Camden County were among those affected as intense rainfall moved through the region.
Flash flood warning issued at 8:06 a.m.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly issued a flash flood warning at 8:06 a.m. EDT for central Mercer County and southwestern Middlesex County in New Jersey.
The warning also covered southeastern Bucks County, Delaware County, southeastern Montgomery County and Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania and was scheduled to remain in effect until noon EDT.
Doppler radar indicated between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain had already fallen across much of the warned area. Rainfall rates of another 0.5 to 1.5 inches in one hour were expected, with flash flooding already occurring or expected to begin shortly.
Trenton and Princeton among communities at risk
Locations identified in the warning included Trenton, Ewing, Princeton and Hightstown in New Jersey, along with Philadelphia, Bensalem, Chester, Jenkintown, Yeadon, Folcroft and Swarthmore in Pennsylvania.
The primary threat was flooding of small creeks and streams, urban streets, highways, underpasses and other low-lying or poorly drained areas.
Residents can check changing warnings directly through the National Weather Service Mount Holly office.
Flood warnings extend across New Jersey
Separate flash flood warnings were reported for parts of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties until 9:30 a.m., while another warning affected part of Morris County until 10 a.m.
Much of New Jersey was also under a flood watch through noon. Rainfall rates could reach 2 inches per hour in some areas, increasing the potential for drainage systems to become overwhelmed.
Rapidly developing flooding can cause widespread disruption, as seen during severe flooding that prompted emergency conditions in Wellington.
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More than 5,600 customers without power
The severe weather coincided with significant electricity disruption. More than 5,600 New Jersey customers were reported without power shortly before 8 a.m., including more than 2,000 PSE&G customers in Camden County.
The available information did not establish a single cause for every outage. Utility totals can also change quickly as crews restore service and additional outages are reported.
Service disruptions can become an important public-safety issue during emergencies, particularly when communications are affected. A recent Optus outage affecting emergency Triple Zero calls demonstrated the wider risks created when critical services are disrupted.
Flash flood warning signals immediate danger
A flood watch means conditions are favorable for flooding, while a flash flood warning means flooding is occurring, imminent or expected shortly.
Flash floods can develop rapidly after intense rainfall, especially in urban areas where paved surfaces send water quickly toward drains, streets and underpasses.
Drivers urged to avoid flooded roads
The National Weather Service is urging motorists to follow its “Turn around, don’t drown” guidance.
Drivers should never attempt to cross a flooded roadway because water can conceal damaged pavement, debris or unexpectedly deep sections. Around six inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet, while deeper moving water can sweep vehicles away.
People in flood-prone areas should move to higher ground if water begins rising, keep children away from floodwater and follow evacuation instructions if issued.
Flood danger can remain after rain eases
Even after the heaviest rain moves away, streams can continue rising and flooded roads may remain dangerous.
Residents should keep emergency notifications enabled and check current weather, road and utility updates before travelling. With flood alerts and outage totals changing rapidly, the latest official information should take priority over earlier reports.
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