Flood in Connecticut, January 20 to 24, 1996

Strong south winds with gusts to 40 to 60 mph and isolated gusts to hurricane force preceded a sharp cold front, which was approaching the region from the west. Peak wind gusts to 58 mph were recorded at both Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and at Glastonbury. There were scattered reports of wind damage including downed trees, downed tree limbs, and scattered power outages. Part of a roof of a Hartford apartment building was damaged, displacing about 15 people. Power outages affected up to 41,000 electric customers statewide, with the most people affected in the northeast corner of the state, where 11,000 electric customers lost power. The high winds also brought a strong January thaw with temperatures rising into the 50s. This combined with rain and melting snow to cause some street flooding.Flash flooding occurred in West Hartford and Hartford, where homes flooded and roads washed out along the upper portion of the South Branch of the Park River and also along the North Branch of the Park River in the parking lots at the University of Hartford and Hartford Community College. The South Branch crested at 10.9 feet at 6 PM on the 19th; flood stage is 10.0 feet. Flooding occurred on the North Branch of the Park River, which reached 11.8 feet at 10 PM on the 20th; flood stage is 8.0 feet. The Connecticut River crested at 17.2 feet at Hartford at 1:30 PM on the 21st; flood stage is 16.0 feet.