Flash Flood in Connecticut, March 9, 1998

Two low pressure systems formed along a front over the Southeast U.S. One low formed over the Western Gulf of Mexico and another formed off the Southeast U.S. Coast. As both lows moved north-northeast, they intensified. A strong moist east wind flow developed ahead of the approaching strong warm front.This system produced widespread heavy rainfall including thunderstorms that caused serious widespread urban, small stream, and river flooding. Twenty residents in Clinton, Middletown, Portland, Haddam, Durham and Middlefield had to evacuate their homes due to flooding. Torrential rain caused rapids to form on River Road in Middletown and caused a car to flip over in Cromwell at Route 3 and Sanford Lane. Parts of River Road were washed out. Significant flooding occurred in the area of Beaver Meadow Road, Candlewood Hill, and Hidden Lake. The Hidden Lake Causeway was closed to traffic for several hours because of flooding.Rainfall began around 1:30 pm on March 8th across coastal Middlesex County and spread north by 5 pm. It became heavy and produced flooding at the times shown above. Rainfall amounts ranged from 3 to 5 inches across the County.This system also produced strong wind gusts from 40 to 55 mph that in combination with the heavy rain caused some tree limbs to fall along with scattered power outages.