Hopatcong, Sparta Under Tropical Storm Warning, Flash Flood Watch

Hopatcong and Sparta are under a tropical storm warning and a flash flood watch through Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

A Tropical Storm Warning means tropical storm-force winds are expected somewhere within this area within the next 36 hours and the NWS says that the peak wind forecast will be 20-30 mph with gusts to 45 mph.

Officials say:

• Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm force.
• Remaining efforts to protect property should be completed as soon as possible. Prepare for limited wind damage.
• Move to safe shelter before the wind becomes hazardous.

Potential impact could include:

• Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
• Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.
• A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways.
• Scattered power and communications outages.

The wind could also cause widespread power outages and Governor Phil Murphy touched on that his Monday COVID-19 briefing.

"I was back and forth with the big public utilities yesterday to get their sense of preparedness." Murphy also said never to assume someone else has called in a power outtage and to make sure you do so yourself. "By tomorrow night this storm should be away from us and the coming days will help us dry out. But for tomorrow, just stay in and stay safe."

The flood watch was issued because officials said rain fall up to six inches, with locally higher amounts are possible. The flooding rain threat has officials asking to:

• Plan: Emergency plans should include the potential for major flooding from heavy rain. Evacuations and rescues are likely.
• Prepare: Strongly consider protective actions, especially if you are in an area vulnerable to flooding.
• Act: Heed any flood watches and warnings. Failure to take action will likely result in serious injury or loss of life.

Officials said the impact of the major rainfall could be extensive:

• Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
• Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. In mountain areas, destructive runoff may run quickly down valleys while increasing susceptibility to
• rockslides and mudslides.
• Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.
• Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged.
• Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.

This storm has a limited chance for tornadoes, officials said.

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