Flooding in Pennsylvania, December 2, 1996

A slow moving cold front and a low pressure system that developed in West Virginia on the first and moved through Eastern Pennsylvania during the morning of the 2nd caused heavy rain and flooding along the Lehigh and Schuylkill Rivers. The heaviest rain fell during the early morning on the second. Storm totals averaged two to three inches, with some higher amounts in the Poconos.The Lehigh River at Walnutport was above its 8 foot flood stage from 430 a.m. until 5 p.m. EST on the 2nd. It crested at 9.5 feet at 9 a.m. EST on the second. Minor flooding occurred along the Schuylkill River from Berne through Pottstown. In Berne, the river reached its 12 foot flood stage at 3 a.m. EST on the 2nd, crested at 12.9 feet at 745 a.m. EST on the 2nd and was back within bankfull at 1 p.m. EST on the 2nd. In Reading, the river was above its 13 foot flood stage from 1130 a.m. EST on the 2nd through 830 p.m. EST on the 2nd. It crested at 13.7 feet at 430 p.m. EST on the 2nd. In Pottstown, the river reached its 13 foot flood stage at 5 p.m. EST on the 17th, crested at 13.1 feet at 7 p.m. EST on the 17th and was back within bankfull at 9 p.m. EST. No serious injuries or damage were reported.Storm precipitation totals included 3.5 inches in Reading, 2.74 inches in Hamburg (Berks County), 2.52 inches in Honey Brook (Chester County), 2.5 inches in Vinemont (Berks County), 2.28 inches in Williams Township (Northampton County), 2.22 inches in Glenmoore (Chester County) 2.07 inches in Palm (Montgomery County), 1.98 inches in Green Lane (Montgomery County) and 1.89 inches at the Lehigh Valley International Airport.The following day (December 3rd) a water rescue was performed along the Maiden Creek along Pennsylvania State Route 143 in Greenwich Township in Berks County. Two men were canoeing on the Maiden Creek when it capsized. One swam to safety, while the other clung to a tree for over an hour before being rescued. The creek was within bankfull, but the recent heavy rain had made it rougher and swelled its stage to about four feet above normal.