Flash Flooding and Tropical Storms Wreak Havoc on the East Coast

Strategic Insights -

Commuters in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions faced disruptions on July 14 after a series of storms dumped heavy rainfall, causing flash flooding, power outages, and water rescues. The storms battered metropolitan areas from New York City to Washington, D.C., prompting road closures and a state of emergency declaration in New Jersey. In northern New Jersey, between 3 and 6.5 inches of rain fell, according to the National Weather Service. The extreme weather also brought significant challenges to first responders, who performed at least 16 water rescues in Pennsylvania and had to contend with widespread power outages and flooding.

Key Takeaways:

  • The storms caused flash flooding in metropolitan areas from New York City to Washington, D.C., prompting road closures and a state of emergency declaration in New Jersey.
  • Between 3 and 6.5 inches of rain fell in northern New Jersey, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
  • First responders performed at least 16 water rescues on July 14 in the Mount Joy Borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where over 7 inches of rain fell in less than five hours.
  • Some homes on the west side of the Borough were inundated with over 5 feet of floodwater, with one basement experiencing a wall collapse in the flooding.
  • The weather service issued an "extreme heat warning" for the Grand Canyon North Rim in Arizona, where temperatures were expected to range from 102 to 110 degrees through the afternoon.

Statistics:

  • Between 3 and 6.5 inches of rain fell in northern New Jersey.
  • Over 7 inches of rain fell in less than five hours in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
  • At least 16 water rescues were performed on July 14 in the Mount Joy Borough, Pennsylvania.
  • Widespread power outages affect thousands of people on the evening of July 14, with most services restored by the next morning.
  • The National Hurricane Center reported a 40% chance for tropical development of the Invest 93L system over the next seven days and a 40% chance over the next 48 hours.

Sources:

  • MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USATODAY Network
  • National Weather Service in Mount Holly
  • National Hurricane Center
  • First responders in Pennsylvania