Flash Flood in Maryland, September 11, 1996

Name: Flash Flood in Maryland, September 11, 1996
Start: 1996-09-11T09:00
End: 1996-09-11T10:15
Location: Maryland

September 11, 1996 · NWS LWX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

5 inches of rain over the northern and eastern suburbs of Washington, and the southern suburbs of Baltimore, during the morning rush. Localized flash flooding was common, bringing several creeks out of their banks and closing numerous roads.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

A nearly stationary line of showers and thunderstorms dumped between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain over the northern and eastern suburbs of Washington, and the southern suburbs of Baltimore, during the morning rush. Localized flash flooding was common, bringing several creeks out of their banks and closing numerous roads. In southern Montgomery Co, Beach Drive was closed between Bethesda and Kensington, as was a portion of Rockville Pike. The Cabin John Creek overflowed its banks along Tuckerman Lane in Bethesda. In Laurel (Prince Georges Co), several roads were flooded.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Anne Arundel

When: September 11, 9:00 AM EST to 10:15 AM EST
Where: Anne Arundel County, Glen Burnie
Coordinates: 38.994, -76.568 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maryland in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Maryland, September 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5572380.