Maryland, 1997

Flash Flooding in Maryland, November 7 to 8, 1997

November 7 to 8, 1997 · NWS LWX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

S. coast generated a prolonged period of moderate to heavy rains over much of western and northern Maryland for most of the day.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
$5,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

Slowly developing low pressure off the southeast U.S. coast generated a prolonged period of moderate to heavy rains over much of western and northern Maryland for most of the day. Rainfall averaging 2 to 4 inches, with localized totals between 4 and 6 inches at higher elevations, caused minor flooding of creeks and small streams. Dozens of secondary roads were closed in the area, most due to swollen creeks but a few others from high standing water.Most of the closed roads were concentrated in Washington and Frederick Cos, areas which had the longest duration of rainfall well into the evening. Several basements reported flooded in the Hagerstown area. Included in the road closures was a portion of state route 68 just north of Williamsport (MDZ003).Rain tapered off during the early evening in Allegany co, and towards midnight elsewhere. From the overnight hours through the following evening, larger creeks remained in flood; namely the Conocochegue Creek in Washington Co.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Washington

When
November 7, 12:00 PM EST to November 8, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Washington County, Countywide
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
39.604, -77.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Allegany

When
November 7, 2:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where
Allegany County, Countywide
Coordinates
39.622, -78.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Frederick

When
November 7, 7:00 PM EST to November 8, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Frederick County, Countywide
Coordinates
39.472, -77.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Carroll

When
November 7, 9:30 PM EST to November 8, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Carroll County, West Portion
Coordinates
39.563, -77.022 (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

More

Every storm in Maryland in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, November 1997

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: 5623131, 5623132, 5623133, 5623134.