It happened again. You wake up, check your phone, and the alerts are already screaming about rt 22 flooding today. If you live anywhere near the Somerset or Union County stretches in New Jersey, or even over the line into Pennsylvania near Phillipsburg, you know the drill. It’s that sinking feeling. Literally.
Rain started heavy last night. By 3:00 AM, the usual suspects like the Blue Star Shopping Center area and the low-lying dips in Green Brook were already taking on water. Honestly, it’s getting predictable, but that doesn't make it any less of a nightmare for your morning commute.
Why the Route 22 Mess Won't Just Go Away
The thing about Route 22 is that it’s basically built in a bowl. Specifically, the section running through North Plainfield, Green Brook, and Watchung sits right at the base of the Watchung Mountains.
When the clouds dump three or four inches of rain in a single afternoon—or worse, over a sustained winter storm—all that water has exactly one place to go. Down. It rushes off the ridge, hits the pavement, and stays there because the drainage systems are often overwhelmed before the first hour is even up.
Scotch Plains Police and local DOT crews are out there right now. You've probably seen the flares. You've definitely seen the orange cones.
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The Real Problem Areas Right Now
If you're trying to navigate the corridor today, Jan 14, 2026, here is what the ground reality looks like:
- Green Brook to Watchung: The stretch between Washington Avenue and Terrill Road is the "danger zone." Water often pools so deep here that it hides the median.
- The Phillipsburg "Dip": Over by the Delaware River, the USGS gauges are showing high levels. While the river itself hasn't topped the walls yet, the backwater into the storm drains is making the Route 22 ramps near the bridge a slushy, dangerous mess.
- Union County Slump: Westbound lanes near the Garden State Parkway interchange are seeing significant ponding. It's not a full closure yet, but it’s a "hydroplane or die" situation.
I spoke to a local tow truck driver near North Plainfield earlier. He basically said that by the time people realize the puddle is actually a two-foot-deep lake, it’s too late. Their engines suck in water, the electronics fry, and suddenly they're a permanent fixture in the left lane until the water recedes.
It’s Not Just "Bad Luck"
People love to blame the weather. Sure, the rain is the trigger. But the real reason rt 22 flooding today is a trending search term is infrastructure.
Basically, we've paved over everything.
When you have miles of strip malls, parking lots, and six lanes of asphalt, there is zero soil to soak up the rain. The Green Brook (the actual stream, not just the town) acts like a funnel. If that stream hits capacity, the water backs up onto the highway. It’s a simple, frustrating equation.
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What the Experts Are Saying
The NJDOT has been "studying" this for years. They’ve talked about raising the roadway. They’ve talked about bigger culverts. But when you’re dealing with a highway that handles tens of thousands of cars a day, you can't just shut it down for six months to fix the plumbing.
So, we get "emergency repairs."
That usually means crews out there clearing debris, pulling soggy branches out of drains, and hoping the next storm isn't as bad. But today? It’s bad.
Survival Guide for the Current Flooding
Don't be the person on the 6 o'clock news. If you see water covering the white lines on the road, you've gotta stop.
Turn around, don't drown. It sounds like a cheesy slogan until your SUV starts floating toward the median.
- Check 511NJ or 511PA: Don't trust your GPS blindly. Waze is good, but sometimes it doesn't catch a flash flood until three people have already stalled out.
- Watch the Median: On Route 22, the water often collects against the concrete barrier. If you can't see the bottom of the "Jersey barrier," the water is deep enough to total your car.
- Head for the Highlands: If you're in Somerset County, try taking the back roads through the hills if they're clear, but be wary of mudslides.
Moving Forward and Staying Dry
The reality is that rt 22 flooding today will likely be rt 22 flooding tomorrow every time a major front moves through the Northeast. We are seeing more frequent, intense bursts of rain that the 1950s-era drainage just wasn't built to handle.
If your vehicle was caught in the mess, check with local police departments like North Plainfield or Scotch Plains. They usually have a list of "police tow" companies like George Aller or B&B. Be prepared for some hefty fees, but getting your car out of the muck is the first priority.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Download the NJDOT or PennDOT apps and set up "Route 22" as a saved corridor for push notifications.
- Avoid the low-lying retail lots (like the ones near the Union/Springfield border) if heavy rain is in the forecast for more than two hours.
- Check your insurance policy to see if "comprehensive" covers flood damage; many people assume it does, but it’s worth a five-minute phone call to be sure.