Flooding Shuts Down Route 37 to Seaside

Portions of Route 37 in Seaside Heights and Pelican Island closed due to massive flooding in Saturday's rain into early Sunday.

Widespread reports of flooding in Toms River lasted through the morning on Sunday after torrential downpours that started Saturday afternoon.

Though the sun broke free Sunday morning, by 11:45 p.m. Saturday the Pelican Island section of Route 37 had closed. The portions of the highway into the barrier island were so flooded from tidal waters and heavy rains that it was closed to vehicular traffic, officials reported.

Seaside Heights Police assisted with the road closure around midnight, while tending to other reports of flooding on the bayside of the barrier island.

On the mainland of Toms River, vehicles were hydroplaning through giant puddles accumulating not just on side roads but on roadways such as Hooper Avenue in Silverton and on Fischer Boulevard near Silver Bay.