Flood in Connecticut, January 23 to 24, 1998

With a weak low pressure system moving east across the Ohio Valley and a strong High sliding slowly southeast over Maine, a strong east wind flow developed across the region early Friday morning, January 23rd. As the High moved southeast, the low over Ohio weakened as another low formed over the Southeast U.S. This second low rapidly intensified as it moved northeast, passing over New York City (NYC) late Friday evening. With abundant moisture available, heavy precipitation, mainly heavy rain along with strong gusty winds occurred from Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning.Precipitation began in the form of snow from 6 am to 7 am. It accumulated up to 3 inches (Danbury) before it changed to rain during the afternoon. As the low moved toward NYC, heavy showers and thunderstorms formed and spread north across the region. Heavy rainfall from around 1 1/2 to 4 inches resulted in widespread small stream and low-lying poor drainage flooding.In Fairfield County, rainfall amounts ranged from 1.44 inches in Danbury to 4.25 inches at Stratford. In Bridgeport, 2.85 inches of rain fell, which set a new daily record.