By: Richard L. Smith
Late Sunday evening, torrential rains overwhelmed Newark's West Ward and surrounding areas, leading to severe flooding that transformed streets into rivers around the city and disrupted significant transport routes.
Around 9:30 p.m., residents on 18th Avenue witnessed rapid flash flooding, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an emergency alert for a dangerous and life-threatening situation.
Authorities urged residents to avoid traveling unless necessary for evacuation.
The deluge also forced the closure of all lanes on the Garden State Parkway at Exit 145 and extended to parts of the highway, including I-78, stranding motorists for hours.
Police closed NJ-21 at Grafton Avenue in the North Ward after flooding made the road in and out of Newark impassable.
The impact extended to major transportation networks, with NJ Transit canceling services on the North East Corridor line.
Floodwaters on the tracks forced many commuters to resort to alternative transportation methods, including Uber, to reach their destinations.
