By: Richard L. Smith
My friends and family living in Newark and residents in the broader North Jersey Region have been battered by a severe weather system, unleashing torrential rains and flooding in areas that proved to collect rain. 
The aftermath is a scene of chaos, with submerged cars, downed power lines, and streets transformed into rivers.
The storm, which has now exited the area, left a significant impact, dumping approximately 2.22 inches of rain in Newark alone. This weather disruption has led to several school delays, primarily in northern New Jersey.
As of 4 a.m., around 52,000 homes and businesses in the Tri-State area are grappling with power outages, with NJ leading the list with the most outages.
A major concern now is the rising water levels in rivers across North Jersey, particularly the Passaic River.
Towns along its banks, like Paterson, are on high alert. The combination of the storm's rainfall and the melting of a previous snowpack has exacerbated the situation, leading to significant flooding in these areas.
Paterson, sitting alongside the Passaic River, has declared a state of emergency, with River Street living up to its name by transforming into a literal river.
The current mild temperatures of 50 degrees are expected to plummet throughout the day.
Today, The National Weather Service forecasts a 30% chance of showers before 10 a.m., with partly sunny skies thereafter. Temperatures are set to fall to around 44 degrees by evening.
Conditions will be breezy, with southwest winds of 14 to 22 mph and gusts up to 37 mph. Tonight, we will see partly cloudy skies with a low of around 34 degrees and a steady west wind.
Residents and commuters are advised to exercise caution and stay alert for flooded roads during their morning travels.