A large swath of moderate to heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms moved across New Jersey during the day on the 22nd. Rainfall totals averaged between one quarter and one half an inch per hour during the thunderstorms and storm totals across the state averaged between 1.5 and 3.0 inches. Less rain fell over Sussex County. The combination of the heavy rain and melting snow produced widespread roadway flooding and ponding of water in poor drainage areas as well as some basement flooding. It also produced flash flooding and flooding along area streams. Please refer to separate Stormdata entries concerning area streams and rivers. The combination of rain and melting snow also led to several roof collapses throughout the state. In Lakewood (Ocean County), a bulb manufacturing facility was evacuated after water was leaking through the roof. In Stafford Township, on February 24th, the roof of the Ocean Acres Community Center buckled under the weight of the snow and rain. The community center is physically attached to the Ocean Acres Elementary School. The elementary school was evacuated and the students were moved to the Stafford Intermediate School. Several classrooms were soaked. In Burlington Township (Burlington County), the Wal-Mart was closed due to its leaking roof. It was closed the next day because of water damage. Elsewhere in Burlington township, a large section of a roof of a food distribution center collapsed. In Maple Shade (Burlington County), the ceiling of a barber shop collapsed. In Atlantic County, a 70 foot by 40 foot section of a roof of a Buick Dealership collapsed. Three vehicles were totaled. In Monmouth County flooding closed New Jersey State Route 35 in Aberdeen and New Jersey State Route 36 in Hazlet.  Storm totals included 2.86 inches in Somerdale (Camden County), 2.77 inches at McGuire Air Force Base (Burlington County), 2.72 inches in West Deptford (Gloucester County), 2.70 inches in New Lisbon (Burlington County), 2.53 inches in Cream Ridge (Monmouth County), 2.42 inches in Lebanon Borough (Hunterdon County), 2.40 inches in Folsom (Atlantic County), 2.39 inches in Belmar (Monmouth County), 2.35 inches in Washington Crossing (Mercer County), 2.34 inches in Seabrook (Cumberland County), 2.31 inches in Millville (Cumberland County), 2.30 inches in Estell Manor (Atlantic County), 2.20 inches in New Brunswick (Middlesex County) and Point Pleasant (Ocean County), 2.05 inches in Freehold (Monmouth County), 1.95 inches in Flemington (Hunterdon County), 1.85 inches in Chatham (Morris County), 1.82 inches in Somerville (Somerset County) and 1.76 inches in Reigelsville (Warren County). The low pressure system responsible for the heavy rain developed along the Gulf Coast States on the 21st and moved northeast into the Tennessee Valley the morning of the 22nd and into Pennsylvania the morning of the 23rd. The strongest surge of warm, unstable air preceding its warm front occurred during the day on the 22nd.  The heavy rain on the 22nd helped make February 2003 one of the wettest Februaries on record in New Jersey. The preliminary statewide monthly average precipitation total was 4.99 inches, the eighth wettest February on record. The February precipitation total of 5.39 inches at the Atlantic City International Airport was the seventh wettest on record.

Heavy Rain in BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 1M
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in CUMBERLAND, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in GLOUCESTER, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in HUNTERDON, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in MERCER, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: .5M
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in SALEM, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in WARREN, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Heavy Rain in ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 22-FEB-03 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-03 16:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: .5M
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC