RARE: New Jersey Turnpike . . . FLOODED!

For only the second time in my 63 years on this planet, the New Jersey Turnpike has FLOODED!

The first time was during Superstorm Sandy.   The second time is . . .  TODAY.  But the weather radar doesn't seem THAT bad:

The rain has been coming down so fiercely - two to three inches per hour -- sections of the New Jersey Turnpike have flooded.

Flash Flood Warning including New York NY, Brooklyn NY and Manhattan NY until 9:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/ZyKLXef7PP

— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) July 14, 2025

Folks, this just doesn't happen here.  Not really EVER.   Yet it's happening now, 7:32 PM eastern US time, July 14, 2025.

Live on the Jersey Turnpike pic.twitter.com/E9tDXt7xTw

— Chef Andrew Gruel (@ChefGruel) July 14, 2025

The New Jersey Turnpike is Interstate 95; the main highway artery from Maine to Florida. In most places, it is SIX LANES in each direction.  It is the busiest road in the United States; and the most expensive, costing over $29,000 per lane mile (shoulders count as a lane) to maintain.

To have this happen is an amazing thing to those of us who live here.  It just doesn't happen.

Elsewhere in New Jersey, major roadways like Route 22 are so flooded, vehicles are FULLY SUBMERGED!

MAJOR FLOODING IN NYC METRO: CCTV shows a vehicle fully submerged on US-22 in Union, New Jersey. https://t.co/SWIg3qSKWX pic.twitter.com/FxVbJa5Jbq

— Lucas (Luke) Brenner (@TheLukeReport) July 14, 2025

UPDATE 8:43 PM EDT --

The Governor has declared a state of emergency:

I am declaring a State of Emergency given flash flooding and high levels of rainfall in parts of the state.

Please stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Stay safe, New Jersey.

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) July 14, 2025

I’ve never seen flooding like this in Jersey. New Providence, NJ pic.twitter.com/kIe6OJ9Y7j

— Kyle (@kczar18) July 14, 2025

Our crews were on the scene in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where they witnessed a dramatic water rescue unfold.

A flash flood warning is still in effect as downpours soak parts of Tri-State Area. https://t.co/GPdoGdfJTU pic.twitter.com/qM83uP8t9H

— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) July 15, 2025

New video shows multiple vehicles piled up in Plainfield, NJ with some being trapped.pic.twitter.com/djCkASE3RA

— StormHQ ☈ (@StormHQwx) July 15, 2025

Video: Small fire seen, cars submerged as flash flooding impacts Plainfield, New Jersey; governor declares state of emergency for parts of NJ. pic.twitter.com/hys2hhXOPw

— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) July 15, 2025