Irene Slams Region With Heavy Rain, Flooding

Northern New Jersey residents are waking up Sunday morning to torrential rains and significant flooding as Hurricane Irene blasts through the region.

A tornado watch had been issued for Morris and Somerset counties overnight as hurricane-spawned tornadoes were possible until 5 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

A tropical storm and flood warning remain in effect for Morris County with heavy rain expected to continue throughout the day. According to the NWS, the storm could produce 6 to 10 inches of rain in most areas, with isolated amounts of up to 14 inches possible.

High winds are also expected, with gusts up to 30 miles per hour, according to the NWS.

The storm, which began to , has already caused some power outages, downed limbs and wires along with causing widespread flooding.

The NWS warned of these rivers, in particular:

• The Passaic River could flood at Millington, Chatham, Pine Brook and Little Falls, affecting Morris and Somerset counties.
• The Pequannock River could flood below Macopin Dam, also affecting Morris County, as well as Passaic County.
• The Pompton River could flood at Pompton Plains, affecting Morris and Passaic.
• The Ramapo River could flood at Pompton Lakes, affecting Morris, Bergen and Passaic counties.
• The Raritan River could flood at Manville and Bound Brook, affecting Somerset and Middlesex counties
• The Rockaway River could flood at Boonton, affecting Morris County.

What does it look like in your neighborhood? Let us know in our live blog and receive up-to-the-minute updates on the storm.