The heat wave that killed 29 New Jerseyans in the first week of July has broken, but for residents dealing with flood damage, the public health risks are not over. They are changing.
Flash flooding struck New Jersey and the broader mid-Atlantic on July 6, 2026, following the severe storms that ended the heat dome. Slow-moving thunderstorms produced rainfall rates of approximately 2 inches per hour across the state, with some communities recording close to 6 inches of rain in a single day — an amount that in some places matched or exceeded a full month's typical rainfall for July. Parts of BJ's Wholesale Club in Ocean Township experienced a partial roof collapse from the weight of accumulated floodwater.
