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Overnight Rain and Wind Threaten North Warren

January 9, 2024

**A powerful storm is expected to dump two to three inches of rain on already saturated areas of New Jersey, with some local downpours of four inches possible. Chart: National Weather Service.**

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Warren County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) remains at a Level 3 (Enhanced Monitoring) status as heavy rains and high winds are expected overnight.

Saturated soil from 10 inches of snow earlier this week is compounding concerns over a wind advisory that took effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon while an expected two to three inches of rain—possibly four in some areas—overnight also loom.

Blairstown Police Chief Scott Johnsen said trees are more susceptible to uprooting from the wind during and after heavy rain.

“There is great concern with how saturated our water table is for trees being knocked down resulting in power outages,” Johnsen said.

Hardwick Emergency Management Coordinator Nicole Meuse said officials there are monitoring the situation closely and she will be meeting with county OEM officials throughout the night.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said sustained winds of 25-35 mph with gusts up to 55 are likely. The worst of the wind is expected before midnight and the advisory expires at 3 a.m. Wednesday.

In addition, the North Warren area is under a flood watch until 6 p.m. Wednesday, with localized downpours of up to four inches. Along the Paulins Kill and its tributaries, flash flooding is a major concern.

At 4:15 Tuesday, NWS river monitoring on the Paulins Kill in Blairstown was measured at a steady 2.21 feet, well below the flood stage of 5 feet. However, the NWS emphasized that heavy rain and localized downpours can cause swift changes in the river levels.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.