Updated: Major Flooding Reported at Ramapo, Pascack Brook
Ramapo reaches 15.66 feet, above forecast
Updated at 4 p.m.
The Ramapo River in Mahwah reached 15.66 feet at 3:15 p.m., above the 15-foot crest predicted by the National Weather Service earlier today.
Major flooding is reported there and at the Pascack River at Westwood, while flooding is rated moderate at two other Bergen County rivers and minor at another.
The county is under a flood warning until 8:45 p.m. A warning means flooding is occurring or is imminent, according to the weather service.
The Ramapo's flood level is 8 feet. The river’s highest crest was 13.4 feet in April 1984. It has flooded at least 19 times in the past 60 years.
The weather service expects the Ramapo to fall back below its banks late tonight.
The Pascack River at Westwood was measured at 8.49 feet at 3:15 p.m., while its major flood level is 5.5 feet and flooding begins at 4 feet. The Pascack reached a record high of 11.4 feet at that spot in September 1999.
Moderate flooding is occurring at the Hackensack River at New Milford and Hohokus Brook at Ho-Ho-Kus.
The Hackensack was measured at 10.19 feet at 3:15 p.m. It floods at 6 feet.
The Hohokus was at 4.71 at 3 p.m., down from 6.08 feet at 12:30 p.m. and 6.71 feet this morning; its flooding level is 3 feet. The brook, which has flooded about a dozen times in the past 40 years, reached its highest crest of 7.32 feet in September 1999.
Flooding at the Hackensack River at Riverdale is now considered minor. It reached 12.12 feet at 3:15 p.m.; its flood level is 5 feet.
The Upper Saddle River in Saddle River was back in its banks after rising to 5.05 feet early this morning; flood stage is 4 feet.
Lesley Whyard
3:17 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011
Don't you mean Pascack Brook?