Flooding 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 widespread urban and small stream flooding as well as river flooding. Many low-lying and poor drainage areas, including streets were flooded throughout the area.A 250 foot stretch of Steamboat Road in Greenwich was closed due to flooding. The Still River in Danbury overflowed its' banks behind the Danbury Fair Mall and in back of Stew Leonard's on Federal Road. In Newtown, a dam split, causing the Pootatuck River to rise. Employees inside two mills along the river evacuated. In Naugatuck, water inundated several home basements. Widespread urban and small stream flooding also occurred in New London County.Rainfall began around 1:30 pm on March 8th across coastal Connecticut and spread north by 5 pm. It became heavy and produced flooding at the times shown above. 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. A vessel sank in the waters off Pear Tree Point Beach (Fairfield County) around 5:25 am on Monday, March 9th.Rainfall amounts generally ranged from around 2 1/2 to just over 4 inches. Here are selected rainfall amounts:o For Fairfield County, from 2.52 inches at Bridgeport to 3.08 inches at Danbury. A new daily rainfall record of 1.98 inches was set at Bridgeport. The old record was 0.48 inches in 1995.o For New Haven County, from 3.19 inches at Ansonia to 4.10 inches at North Branford.o For New London County, from 2.95 inches at Groton to 3.89 inches at the Norwich Public Utilities.