Severe Thunderstorms Slam Bergen County: Major Highways Flooded, NJ Transit Suspended, and Fires Sparked Across North Jersey
screen grab Wyckoff Police
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A violent severe thunderstorm swept across Bergen County on Monday evening, causing widespread flash flooding, downed power lines, highway closures, and building fires. Authorities warn that more rain and severe weather risks are expected to continue into Tuesday.
Major Highway Closures Across Route 208 and Route 17
The sudden deluge disrupted Monday evening commutes across several key corridors:
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Route 208 Northbound (Wyckoff): All northbound lanes near Cedar Avenue were shut down due to downed power lines and a transformer-related fire, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
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Route 17 (Paramus): Flooding forced the closure of two right lanes and the shoulder near Century Road just before 7:00 p.m.
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Route 17 Northbound (Hawthorne): By 7:20 p.m., state officials shut down all northbound lanes near Goffle Road as floodwaters rushed across the highway.
NJ Transit Suspended & Firefighters Battle Goffle Road Blaze
Shortly after 8:00 p.m., NJ Transit announced the suspension of the Pascack Valley Line in both directions due to severe track flooding.
In nearby Ridgewood, emergency responders faced multiple compounding hazards. Ridgewood’s Village Manager confirmed on social media that local firefighters were actively battling a working fire on Goffle Road amidst flooding conditions.
“Tonight’s thunderstorms have caused street flooding and downed power lines in the Village,” officials stated. “The Ridgewood Fire Department is fighting a working fire on Goffle Road. Please avoid that area and follow all detours… The Police Department is handling multiple calls in order of priority.”
Hail, Lightning Strikes, and Storm Damage Reports
Local residents in Wyckoff, Ridgewood, and Franklin Lakes reported widespread hail accompanying the heavy rain. In Wyckoff, eyewitnesses reported seeing a direct lightning strike immediately preceding a localized structural fire.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in New York has requested that residents throughout Bergen and Rockland counties submit official storm damage reports, including details on hail size, downed trees, and water levels.
Looking Ahead: Storm Threat Increases Tuesday
Meteorologists caution that the threat level for severe weather and additional flash flooding remains elevated through Tuesday. Motorists are urged to avoid driving through flooded roads, obey local detours, and treat any downed wires as energized and extremely dangerous.
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