South Jersey Shore Towns Experience Severe Flooding After Heavy Rainfall

Multiple South Jersey shore towns were hit with extensive flooding after torrential rain overnight and into Sunday morning. Meteorologist Andrew Kozak reported that thunderstorms brought between 2-6 inches of rain along the shore overnight, with more storms and severe weather predicted for Sunday afternoon and evening.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for the entire Delaware Valley, much of New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware. It expired at 7 p.m. The entire area is under an enhanced risk of severe weather, designated as Level 3 on a five-point scale.

Video footage captured by contributing photographer HughE Dillon, shared with CBS News Philadelphia, revealed cars driving through the flooded North Essex Avenue in Margate earlier in the morning. The Margate Police Department posted on Facebook, urging drivers not to cross flooded roads and provided a list of flood-prone areas to avoid. They emphasized the importance of adhering to any barricades set up by authorities.

In Margate's Winchester Avenue, several intersections were immersed in water, forcing two cars to be towed out of the high water. Some residents were caught off guard by the severity of the flooding, while others were more prepared. A visitor from Pittsburgh, Jillian Hauser, expressed concern for her vehicle, which was partially submerged. Thankfully, she was able to retrieve her car without any issues. This flooding was not entirely unexpected for the area, as residents emphasized the need to monitor weather patterns and tides.

Ocean City also experienced significant flooding, as depicted in videos shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). One video showed a pickup truck driver pulling out a partially submerged sedan from a flooded road. Some adventurous individuals even took to paddle boarding along the flooded streets. At 24th Street in Ocean City, parts of the road were flooded and temporarily closed to traffic.

Brian King, from Mullica Hill, shared that the home they were staying in remained unaffected by the floodwaters. However, their friend encountered difficulties when their car became stuck in the flooding. In Sea Isle, the breakfast and lunch restaurant, Steak Out, shared a video highlighting submerged streets and sidewalks.

The impending storms for Sunday night pose significant threats including damaging winds, heavy rain that could lead to additional flash flooding, and the potential for isolated tornadoes. Storms are expected to reach South Jersey between 6-10 p.m.

The NEXT Weather team will continue to closely monitor the severe weather conditions as they pose a risk to the Delaware Valley. The latest updates can be found online, on-air, and through streaming on CBS News Philadelphia.