Live updates: How will flooding conditions in North Jersey change rest of the day?

Tuesday night's storm left massive flooding Wednesday morning as it forced evacuations, closed highways and delayed schools throughout North Jersey.

Some parts of North Jersey saw nearly 3.5 inches of rain in the latest storm that continued an astonishingly wet several weeks for the region.

Our staff will bring you updates throughout the day on the impact felt by the storm. Check back for updates.

JCP&L offering water and ice

JCP&L stated Wednesday that it has made "significant progress restoring power to customers" and expects to have power back to the majority of its customers by 11 p.m. Thursday.

In the meantime, the utility company is offering free water and ice to its customers who are still without power. There are locations in Essex, Morris, Sussex and many other counties. For a complete list, click here.

'Significant flooding' in Westwood

The rainstorm brought “significant flooding” to Westwood, said Mayor Raymond Arroyo. The borough received 2.66 inches of water, while there was 3.13 inches of rain further up the Pascack Brook, he said.

The water rose rapidly around 2 a.m., with significant flooding being reported at Harding Avenue, Steuben Avenue, Nugent Place, Broadway, Brookside Park and at the Roxbury and 500 Center condominiums, said Arroyo. Flooding peaked around 6 a.m. and began to recede soon after.

The borough’s Office of Emergency Management, police officers, public works personnel, fire department and other emergency services were actively monitoring conditions throughout the night, providing updates, warnings, and responding to calls for aid, said Arroyo.

“Our heartfelt thanks to these men and women for their diligence and commitment to the residents of Westwood,” said Arroyo.

- Stephanie Noda

For more on the flooding in North Jersey and how it affected residents, check out this story.

When will NJ rivers flood?

Though the rain has dissipated some major rivers have not reached their peak flooding stages yet. The Passaic River in Little Falls , for example, is expected to rise above flood stage Wednesday afternoon.

See more info on the flood forecast for our rivers here.

Hackensack flooding

In Hackensack, several roads were closed Wednesday morning due to flooding, including South River Street from Broadway to Kennedy Street, South Newman Street, Main Street near Coles Avenue, Lodi and Green streets, and Commerce Way.

The city is in the midst of a massive project to separate parts of the city's combined sewer lines to reduce the overflows into the river and stop sewer water from flooding the city's streets and entering residents' homes. But for now, residents of some neighborhoods still experience flooding during bad storms.

North Jersey: Here's what towns, residents are reporting about flood conditions

Josh Cohen, a resident in the Fairmount section of Hackensack, said his sewer line consistently floods with city overflow during heavy rains. During storms like the one Tuesday, sewage also overflows onto the street through catch-basins on Clinton Place and Prospect Avenue.

“I have a flood-gate backwater valve installed on my sewer which prevents the overflow from entering the basement,” he said. “But I cannot take showers or flush toilets during an overflow event."

−Megan Burrow

Gov. Murphy gives state update

Gov. Phil Murphy said on CBS that as of 8:45 a.m. there were about 56,000 without power, and that was primarily near the shore where the winds had been stronger.

Flooding is still a concern in the northern part of the state as rivers may not crest until tomorrow, Murphy said.

He noted that there have been no storm-related deaths reported and the system has moved through the area, but more rain is expected in a few days.

How much rain? Here's a look at the amount of rain North Jersey got by town in latest storm

The governor also said declaring a state of emergency early has two benefits. The first is that it helps with managing the response to the storm, while the second is that it signals to residents that the storm will be serious.

“It’s harder to penetrate on water events,” Murphy said. He added that people don’t take rain as seriously as they do snow, and in cases like Hurricane Ida, “people pay with their lives.”

−Katie Sobko

More: NJ flooding is getting worse. Saturation Point series traces impact, inspects solutions

Flooding status in Paterson

City officials fear the worst is yet to come for Paterson from the latest storm.

Acting fire Chief Alex Alicea said that as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday firefighters rescued about 10 people trapped in vehicles stuck on flooded roads in Paterson. So far, Alicea said there’s been no major flooding in the city.

But the Passaic River is expected to crest at 10 feet in Paterson on Thursday afternoon, which likely will swamp some bridges and flood streets near the river, Alicea said.

Public schools opened for in-person classes Wednesday morning, despite a request from the city’s emergency management coordinator, Troy Ayers, that they close because of the “impending hazard” from the storm.

The district didn’t disregard Ayers’ request, said school board president Manny Martinez. “We considered it,” Martinez said.

−Joe Malinconico

Oakland flooding

Oakland Business Administrator Richard Kunze said Wednesday that flooding has receded in Crystal Lake and Roosevelt Boulevard. The Glen Gray Road bridge over the Ramapo River remains under water, he said. One neighborhood lost power for six hours last night, but power was restored, Kunze said.

−Marsha Stoltz

North Passaic flooding

In the extreme northwest of Passaic County, West Milford residents saw nearly 3 inches of rain and another inch from snowmelt but no road closures as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to a statement from local police. The Pequannock River running along the south of the township was nonetheless teeming with runoff from the Charlotteburg Reservoir, helping to fuel severe flooding in towns to the southeast.

Pequannock Avenue and Hillview Road were also closed in Pequannock. Further north, the flooding had led to road closures in the vicinity of Van Dam Avenue in Bloomingdale. And, in Pompton Lakes, the rising flow of the Wanaque River at Wilderness Island Park and other rivers led town officials to open a temporary shelter at the Carnevale Center at 10 Lenox Ave.

− David Zimmer

Lincoln Park flooding

Residents in flood-prone areas are urged to self-evacuate before roads become impassable. Assisted evacuations will end at 10 p.m. unless there is an emergency.

Stores were open and traffic was brisk along the flood-prone Route 202 corridor from Montville through Lincoln Park into Pequannock. But significant flooding could be seen in some neighborhoods, including homes along River Road, parallel to Route 202 near the Wayne border where the Pompton River bends. Those River Road homes were completely surrounded by floodwater.

More flooding could be seen nearby along Ryerson Road, while the Lincoln Park Community Lake recreation complex was completely under water. So was the boat launch at Aqueduct Park.

−William Westhoven

Amtrak cancellations

A couple dozen Amtrak trains from Virginia to Maine were cancelled Wednesday due to the effects of the wicked rainstorm that passed through the East Coast last night that left downed wires, trees and flooding in its wake.

Twenty-six trains were canceled either in their entirety or partially, according to Amtrak's website. In addition to cancellations, Amtrak warned customers that there could be delays on trains that are running because of high water levels along some routes, including between New York Penn Station and Albany, and Providence and Boston.

− Colleen Wilson

Hudson River communities spared so far

New Jersey's Hudson River communities were spared from large scale flooding from the overnight storm.

Streets were mostly clear in flood-prone Hoboken during rush hour Wednesday morning.

In Edgewater, the large shopping centers that line on the banks of the Hudson were opening for business on time, said managers of Acme, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's supermarkets.

−Scott Fallon

Evacuations in Oakland and other towns

Residents of Lakeshore Drive in Oakland were helped out of their home by first responders as evacuations took place. Crystal Lake crested, causing "significant" flooding, per the Oakland Fire Department.

As the storm approached, Lodi officials urged residents to evacuate from flood-prone homes. Water could be seen filling Sidney Sweet up to the Dunkin'.

Wayne mostly in good shape

Merchants at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne opened for business as scheduled at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Ryan Hidalgo, the senior general manager of the shopping center, the largest in Passaic County, said the low-lying property south of Route 46 experienced no flooding.

It is a concern for all property owners in that area due to the proximity of the Passaic River, which forms the border between the township and Fairfield, and between it and Little Falls.

But local police reported that flood-prone roads in the vicinity were navigable.

Other streets farther north were inundated. They included Clark Street, a portion of Fayette Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, a portion of Monmouth Avenue and all roads in the Hoffman Grove neighborhood.

−Phil DeVencentis

Flooding on NJ highways

The highways were a mess Wednesday morning with flooding closing many main arteries for commuters.

Some of the highways with lanes closed due to flooding include Route 17 in Hasbrouck Heights, Route 23 in Kinnelon, the New Jersey Turnpike in Newark and Route 206 in Mount Olive.

Route 23 in Pequannock is also expected to be closed in both directions, police said.

Lincoln Park residents take precautions

Although Wednesday's flooding isn’t as severe as it was on Dec. 18, three times in three weeks is still a lot to deal with, said Lincoln Park’s Kristen Perry, who currently has two feet of water in the garage of her yellow raised ranch on the corner of Ryerson Road and Pequannock Avenue.

There was 4 feet of water in the garage on that December day. Still, Perry picked up her son from Pequannock Township High School early Wednesday, worried he might have trouble getting in the front door if floodwaters continue to rise.

“The water comes around both sides of our house. If it rises high enough, it meets in the middle of the yard it and will connect and then our house is completely surrounded by water,” Perry said. “I don't think it's supposed to be as bad as last time, which is good, but it's still a little nerve-wracking. I don’t want my son walking through disgusting muddy river water to get back in the house."

Floods affecting home value

Perry, 53, and her husband Brian, 50, moved to Lincoln Park 14 years ago to be near his family. Since then there have been numerous floods, some major, some minor, she said.

At this point, they’d like to get out. Neighbors have had trouble selling their homes.

“Our neighbors were trying to sell their house and they actually had some offers," Perry said, "and then the potential buyers came during the first flood and took pictures and video and I don't think they ever heard from them again. It's frustrating."

Perry is hoping government might help. She applied to the state DEP’s Blue Acres program, which buys out homes in flood prone areas, once before but was turned down. She tried again recently.

“I sent them video of the water just rushing into our driveway after Irene in 2011 and I sent them pictures of the last two storms and said, ‘How do we apply again?’" Perry said. "But I forget what the reply was. Honestly, my brain is just fried from all this. I don't remember what he said."

−Gene Myers

Flood forecast: River flooding could reach peak Wednesday afternoon

Rainfall totals New Jersey

Some rain totals per Bob Ziff of the North Jersey Weather Observers:

• Ramsey: 3.49 inches

• North Haledon: 3.48

• Parsippany: 3.37

• Bergenfield: 2.65

• Vernon: 2.41

See more rainfall totals here.

NJ power outages

Thousands of JCP&L customers were without power as of 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, including 1,941 in Sussex County. Passaic County saw more than 1,600 outages before that number was reduced to about 300 early in the afternoon.

The number of Sussex outages had dropped to 582 by 4 p.m. Most of those were in Sparta, where 340 customers remained without power.

NJ school closings and delayed openings

Man schools in North Jersey called delayed openings for Wednesday while others have closed. Check the list here.

Wettest December on record

The storm battered an already water-weary state that just experienced the wettest December on record dating back to 1895. For Passaic County, December’s 8.57 inches of precipitation was the second highest total on record for the month and double the 30-year normal rate of 4.26 inches.

It was the fourth wettest December for Bergen County, which got 7.67 inches.

The active weather pattern for the region has been caused by a strong El Nino and exacerbated by climate change, said David Robinson, New Jersey’s state climatologist and a Rutgers University professor.

El Nino is a weather pattern that pulls moisture and energy out of the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and sends it east across the United States.

The pattern of storms we have been experiencing is the result. And the storms are even more intense than they otherwise would be because the warmer air and greater energy in the atmosphere caused by climate change can amplify weather events, making large storms even larger, Robinson said.

− James O'Neill

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ flooding updates as highways close and people evacuate