Flash Flood, Washington
- When
- May 8, 11:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Washington County, East Portion
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 39.604, -77.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flooding in Maryland, May 8, 1998
Heavy rain bands, producing total rain between 1 1/2 and 2 inches in some locations, caused flooding to ensue across portions of western Maryland on the 8th. The rains, falling onto saturated soil, closed numerous roads in each county.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $6,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
Heavy rain bands, producing total rain between 1 1/2 and 2 inches in some locations, caused flooding to ensue across portions of western Maryland on the 8th. The rains, falling onto saturated soil, closed numerous roads in each county. In eastern Washington Co, several roads were closed in and near Hagerstown, many which cross Antietam Creek. One of the closed roads was state route 66. In Frederick Co, at least a dozen roads were closed due to flood waters. Downtown Frederick was spared to some extent as a city flood-reduction project along Carroll Creek helped divert water away from downtown businesses. However, Baker Park reported some minor flooding.All roads eventually reopened by May 10th.
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:58 UTC.
Event by event
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash Flood, Frederick
- When
- May 8, 11:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
- Where
- Frederick County, West Portion
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 39.472, -77.398 (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
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 8 to 9, 1998
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 8, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 8, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 8, 1998
- Strong Wind in Kansas, May 8, 1998
- Heavy Snow and Hail in Utah, May 8, 1998
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, May 8, 1998
- Damaging Winds in Texas, May 8, 1998
- Flooding and Heavy Rain in New Jersey, May 8 to 16, 1998
- Tornado in South Carolina, May 8, 1998
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Virginia, May 8, 1998
- Damaging Wind in Texas, May 8, 1998
More
Every storm in Maryland in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, 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: 5645832, 5645833.