Storms are rolling into North Jersey this week, and most of the coverage is focused on flooding and travel delays. But there’s a health angle here too. It’s one that’s easy to miss until you’re dealing with it. Here’s what to actually watch out for.
What’s Happening With the Weather
A humid air mass has settled over the Tri-State area, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms from Sunday night through Monday. Rainfall rates could hit 1 to 2 inches per hour at times, and that’s enough to trigger flash flooding, especially in northeastern New Jersey, an area already hit hard by flooding last week. Wind gusts could reach up to 60 mph in the strongest storms, though flooding, not wind, is the main concern this time. Rain should ease up Monday evening, with drier conditions expected Tuesday before more rain returns midweek.
The Health Risks That Come With Flooding
Flooding isn’t just a property problem. It creates real health hazards, and a lot of people don’t think about them until it’s too late.
- Contaminated floodwater. Floodwater often mixes with sewage, chemicals, and debris. Wading through it, even ankle deep, raises the risk of skin infections and stomach illness if you’re not careful. Contaminated water isn’t the only way foodborne illness spreads either. Our recent coverage of the cyclospora outbreak breaks down how contamination can travel through produce and water supplies well beyond flood season.
- Mold growth. Anything that stays wet for more than 24 to 48 hours can start growing mold. That can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions, especially in kids and older adults.
- Carbon monoxide risk. If storms knock out power, generators are often the fix. But running one indoors or too close to a window is a leading cause of accidental CO poisoning after storms.
- Driving through flooded roads. It only takes about a foot of moving water to sweep a car off the road. Several vehicles got stuck in floodwater on Getty Avenue in Paterson just last week, a reminder of how fast conditions can turn dangerous.
The CDC’s flood safety guidance is a solid resource if you want a full rundown on staying safe during and after flooding.
Humidity and Heat Add Another Layer
It’s not just the rain. The muggy air mass moving through means overnight lows won’t drop much below the mid 70s, and daytime highs are sticking in the low to mid 80s. That combination of heat and high humidity makes it harder for your body to cool itself down through sweat, which raises the risk of heat exhaustion, even on a cloudy, rainy day.
People most at risk: older adults, young kids, anyone with heart or respiratory conditions, and outdoor workers. Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, and a fast pulse. If you or someone near you starts showing those signs, move to a cool space and hydrate right away.
What You Can Actually Do
- Avoid walking or driving through standing water, no matter how shallow it looks.
- If your basement floods, wear gloves and boots when cleaning up, and don’t let kids near the water.
- Throw out any food that may have touched floodwater, including items in a fridge or freezer that lost power for an extended stretch. Food safety issues, like the ones covered in our cyclospora outbreak update, can spread just as easily after a storm as they can through contaminated produce.
- Run generators outside only, at least 20 feet from windows and doors.
- Keep an eye on humidity sensitive family members, especially if the power goes out and AC stops working.
- Check the National Weather Service’s local forecast before heading out, since conditions are expected to stay unpredictable through midweek.
Bottom Line
The storm story isn’t just about rain totals and traffic. Floodwater, mold, humidity, and power outages all carry real health risks that tend to get overlooked in the usual weather coverage. If you’re in North Jersey this week, the safest move is simple: stay out of floodwater, watch for heat related symptoms, and keep tabs on the forecast as it shifts through midweek. For more on how this storm system is developing, check [our latest weather coverage] on the site.
This article will be updated as the forecast changes throughout the week.
