Severe Weather History


New Jersey Heavy Rain History: 1,160 Recorded Events

1,160

Recorded events

21

Counties affected

3

Direct deaths

$3.8M

Property damage

New Jersey heavy rain history: 1,160 recorded events across 21 counties between 1996 and 2022.

Decade by decade

New Jersey heavy rain history by decade

New Jersey heavy rain history: recorded events per decade
New Jersey heavy rain history: recorded events per decade

The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 379 reported heavy rain events across New Jersey. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most heavy rain events in New Jersey

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Cape May County820$150K1996–2017
#2Cumberland County760$1.0M1996–2020
#3Atlantic County710$1.0M1996–2017
#4Ocean County690$500K1996–2022
#5Burlington County630$1.0M1997–2017
#6Hunterdon County620$01997–2022
#7Middlesex County610$01997–2022
#8Monmouth County480$01996–2022
#9Gloucester County470$01996–2017
#10Morris County440$100K1997–2017
#11Mercer County420$01997–2022
#12Camden County410$01997–2017
#13Warren County380$01997–2017
#14Somerset County340$01997–2017
#15Sussex County342$01997–2016
#16Salem County320$01996–2017
#17Bergen County230$01996–2006
#18Passaic County201$01996–2011
#19Essex County190$10K1996–2009
#20Hudson County160$01996–2006
#21Union County140$01996–2005
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest heavy rain events in New Jersey

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Aug 11, 2003Sussex County—20
Aug 28, 2011Passaic County—10
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in New Jersey · Heavy Rain across the U.S.