A flash flood warning has been issued for southeastern Hunterdon County and southwestern Somerset County on Aug. 11, 2016.
Update: The flash flood warning has been extended to 12:30 a.m. Friday.
A flash flood warning has been issued for southeastern Hunterdon County and southwestern Somerset County on Thursday afternoon.
The warning was issued at 5:25 p.m. and is in effect until 12:30 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Doppler radar is showing thunderstorms continuing to roll through the area, and, with some areas having already experienced between two and three inches of rain, flash flooding is expected.
Areas most at risk are Flemington, Stockton, Sand Brook, Clover Hill, Sergeantsville, Flagtown, Belle Mead and Lambertville.
According to the National Weather Service, at 8:23 p.m. the Neshanic River at Reaville was at 8.2 feet and rising. Flood stage is 6.5 feet.
During the evening commute there was heavy traffic being reported on both sides of Routes 31 and 202 in Hunterdon County just south of the Flemington Circle to Ringoes in East Amwell, as well as on portions of Route 202 east of the Flemington Circle to Branchburg in Somerset County. Traffic delays were also being reported on Route 31 in both directions south of Ringoes to Hopewell Township in Mercer County.
Flood waters prompt rescues throughout region
Additional delays were being reported on Route 206 in both directions through Hillsborough and Montgomery townships in Somerset County.
Thursday's heavy rain is the latest in a series of strong storms that have passed through Central Jersey in recent weeks. On July 30 and 31, thunderstorms caused flooding throughout Hunterdon County and forced the early-closure of the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.
Strong thunderstorms on July 25 also caused widespread flooding and damage throughout Hunterdon and Somerset counties, including a reported microburst in Branchburg.