(201) 429-9607
Northern New Jersey is under a flood watch again. The National Weather Service has posted a flood watch for Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Union, and Hudson counties from Tuesday morning, July 21, through Tuesday evening, with multiple rounds of showers expected on and off from the morning onward and the potential for localized flooding through the day.
On a normal week, a flood watch is routine summer news. This is not a normal week.
The ground has nothing left to absorb
Just three days ago, on Saturday, July 18, parts of North and Central Jersey took 5 to 8 inches of rain in a matter of hours — a flash flood emergency that drew comparisons to Hurricane Ida. Newark police and firefighters pulled drivers from cars trapped in high water at Frelinghuysen and McClellan avenues, flooded streets and underpasses across the region held a foot or two of standing water, a state of emergency was declared, and thousands lost power.
The soil is saturated, streams are running high, and storm drains in many towns are still clearing debris. Tuesday’s rain lands on ground that can’t absorb much more — which means water backs up faster: in streets, in yards, against foundations, and on your roof.
Rain doesn’t need a storm to get into your house — just an opening
Tuesday’s forecast isn’t about wind or hail. It’s about volume and repetition: rounds of rain, hour after hour, on homes that have already been hit by three damaging storms this month — the July 4 wind event, the July 15 hail storm, and Saturday’s deluge.
Steady, repeated rain is how small roof problems become interior damage. Shingles lifted by this month’s winds let water reach the underlayment. Hail-bruised shingles shed granules and thin out exactly where water runs. Flashing loosened around chimneys and valleys wicks water sideways under the roof. And gutters clogged with storm debris overflow against the fascia, sending water behind the trim and down the walls. None of these leak on a dry day. All of them leak in six hours of steady rain.
What to do tonight, before the rain starts
- Clear what you can safely reach from the ground: downspout outlets, splash blocks, and any visible debris at gutter openings. Water needs somewhere to go.
- Make sure downspouts discharge away from the foundation — a downspout dumping at the wall is how basements take water.
- Move valuables off basement floors if your street or basement flooded on Saturday. Same water, same paths.
- Check your ceilings and attic tonight with a flashlight. A faint stain today is where tomorrow’s leak shows up.
- If you already know you have damage from this month’s storms — missing shingles, a tarp, a stain that appeared after July 15 or 18 — don’t wait through another soaking. Call before the rain: (201) 429-9607.
If water comes in on Tuesday
Catch it, contain it, and photograph everything — the ceiling, the attic side if you can reach it safely, and the outside of the house from the ground. Dated photos during the event are the strongest documentation you can have, whether or not you end up filing an insurance claim. Don’t get on the roof in the rain, and be careful around any ceiling that’s sagging or holding water.
An honest note on insurance: policies generally treat sudden storm-created openings differently from long-term wear, and coverage always depends on your specific policy, deductible, and adjuster findings — no contractor can promise an outcome. What helps every claim: dated photos, a record of this month’s storm dates (July 4, 15, 18, and 21), and a professional inspection report tying the damage to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can heavy rain alone damage a roof?
Rain alone rarely damages a healthy roof — but it finds every existing weakness. After this month’s wind and hail, many roofs in Bergen, Passaic, and Essex counties have openings their owners don’t know about yet. Volume rain like Tuesday’s is usually when they announce themselves.
Why is my ceiling leaking when there was no storm today?
Repeated soakings saturate underlayment and insulation until water finally shows inside — often days after the damage that caused it. The leak’s cause is usually upstream: a lifted shingle, failed flashing, or an overflowing gutter, not “today’s rain.”
My basement flooded Saturday. Is that a roofing problem?
It can be. Overflowing or clogged gutters dump roof water at the foundation instead of away from it. If your gutters sheeted over during Saturday’s storm, that’s fixable — see our guide on basement water and clogged gutters, and have both roof and gutters inspected free.
Should I wait until after Tuesday’s rain to get an inspection?
If you have no signs of damage, after is fine — we’ll be inspecting all week. If you have any known damage or stains from this month’s storms, call now: temporary protection before hours more of rain is far cheaper than a wet ceiling.
Free roof and gutter inspections before and after the rain
Simple Roofing is based in Wayne and serves all of Passaic, Bergen, and Essex counties. We’ll inspect your roof and gutters free, show you photos of what we find, and give you an honest answer either way.
📞 Call or text (201) 429-9607 · Get a Free Roof Inspection · Storm Damage Repair · Gutter Services
Serving Wayne, Paterson, Hackensack, Newark, and all of Passaic, Bergen & Essex counties.
Roof leaking right now? Our 24/7 emergency roof repair team tarps and stabilizes roofs same-day across Passaic, Bergen, and Essex counties — call (201) 429-9607.