Heavy rain from Hurricane Isaias remnants could soak Millburn and Short Hills as early as Sunday, Oct. 11. The forecast raises flood concerns in a community still scarred by past storms.

The National Weather Service said Thursday, Oct. 8, that the storm's remnants will bring rain to the region Sunday into Sunday night, with 1 to 2 inches expected across much of the area, NJ.com reported. Higher totals are possible.

The NWS office serving New Jersey expressed higher-than-normal confidence that the area will see significant rainfall. AccuWeather forecasters warned the heavy rain could lead to flooding, especially in areas already saturated from recent storms, according to Patch.

For North Jersey, the forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Sunday, rising to 80 percent Sunday night.

Forecasters still disagree on the exact timing. The NWS noted broad agreement that the remnants will affect the region Sunday and possibly into early Monday but said it was too early to pin down precise rainfall amounts.

Millburn's flood history

The forecast carries extra weight in Millburn, where the Rahway River runs through town and has fueled repeated disasters. Tropical Storm Ida struck on Sept. 1, 2021, causing an estimated $100 million in damages to homes and businesses. The South Mountain section, including Ridgewood Road and Locust Avenue, was among the hardest hit.

Ida was the third major flood event in roughly two decades, following Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Hurricane Irene in 2011.

In January, the Township Committee reconstituted its Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee, citing the ongoing threat. Mayor Frank Saccomandi said at the Jan. 20 Township Committee meeting, "We have a flooding problem in town that affects families and businesses, but we're blessed with world-class engineers who have developed a solution to prevent flooding once and for all."

The township's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has issued three flood watch alerts so far in 2026, on July 18, Aug. 20 and Sept. 12. Each time, crews cleaned catch basins, storm drains and grates and drained Taylor Park Pond as a precaution.

How to prepare

Millburn Township has not yet issued a specific alert for Isaias. Residents should monitor Millburn Alert for updates.

Residents whose driveways are prone to flooding can move vehicles to the second level of the parking garage at Essex Street and Lackawanna Place, according to the OEM.

Emergency contacts: Millburn Police (non-emergency), 973-564-7001; Fire (non-emergency), 973-564-7035; OEM (non-emergency), 973-564-1970. Report power outages to JCP&L at 1-800-544-4877.

The NWS expects dry, sunny weather through Saturday, with highs in the low to mid-70s, before rain arrives Sunday.