Connecticut, 1998

Flood and Heavy Rain in Connecticut, May 9 to 13, 1998

May 9 to 13, 1998 · NWS BOX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system to the south and southeast of Cape Cod combined with high pressure over eastern Canada to produce a 3-day nor'easter. Periods of heavy rain occurred from May 9th into May 11th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
None recorded
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 BOX wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system to the south and southeast of Cape Cod combined with high pressure over eastern Canada to produce a 3-day nor'easter. Periods of heavy rain occurred from May 9th into May 11th. Rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches were common. The maximum storm total reported was 5.10 inches at Windsor Center. Some other amounts included: 3.07 inches at Southington, 2.90 inches at Mansfield Hollow, 2.71 inches at Unionville, and 2.39 inches at Hartford. Eventually, minor flooding occurred along the Farmington River. At Simsbury, the Farmington River reached flood stage of 12.0 feet at midnight at the beginning of May 12th, crested at 12.2 feet at 4 PM on the 12th, then fell below flood stage at 1 AM on the 13th.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Hartford

When
May 9, 6:00 PM EST to May 11, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Hartford forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.819, -72.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Tolland

When
May 9, 6:00 PM EST to May 11, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Tolland forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy Rain, Windham

When
May 9, 6:00 PM EST to May 11, 12:00 PM EST
Where
Windham forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.827, -71.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hartford

When
May 11, 11:00 PM EST to May 13, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Hartford forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.819, -72.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Connecticut in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, May 1998

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: 5656176, 5656177, 5656178, 5656179.