Flash Flooding and Flooding in Massachusetts, June 13 to 23, 1998

On June 12th through the 14th, a very slow moving complex storm system moved through southeast New England. The combination of its slow movement and the presence of tropical moisture across the region produced rainfall of 6 to 12 inches over much of eastern Massachusetts, which led to widespread urban, small stream, and river flooding. During the period from June 15th through the 20th, the slow moving upper level system continued to set off afternoon thunderstorms which moved very slowly in the weak upper level wind flow. Several flash flood events occurred. The flooding resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration in the following Massachusetts counties: Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Bristol. Dollar damage has been established at $13,000,000. A flash flood situation developed when torrential rain fell on June 13th producing 5 to 8 inches of rainfall in less than 12 hours. Urban and poor drainage flooding began around mid-day and small stream flooding began about mid-afternoon. Second and third waves of heavy rainfall followed by the evening of June 14th, producing an additional 2 to 4 inches. Many rivers and streams reached 50 to 75 year return period elevations. However, despite the magnitude of flooding that did occur, most streams climbed to only 1 to 2 feet above their respective flood stages. The total dollar damage figure was not nearly as great as what occurred from the October, 1996 floods, which caused more than $64 million damage to the Boston Metropolitan rail system alone. While significant flood damage to the Boston Metro area public transportation was averted, water did force the closing of much of the subway transit system and commuter rails in Greater Boston, forcing many commuters to use bus transportation. Dozens of roads and highways were flooded and cars stalled in waist-deep muddy water. About 12,000 electric customers lost power during the heavy rain. The first reports of small stream flooding occurred when the Spring, Diamond, and Mine Brooks overflowed their banks in Walpole. In Boston, the Muddy River was in flood at 4 PM and it remained several feet out of its banks as late as 11:30 PM. The subway system in a part of Boston was flooded. Flooding occurred during the late afternoon in Lynnfield in Essex County when Pillings Pond overflowed its banks. Cars were reported stalled on flooded roads. In Norfolk County, in Walpole, Traphole Brook overflowed and flooded two houses. A tributary to Traphole Brook flooded Francis William Park and adjacent homes. In Middlesex County, in Wakefield, Crystal Lake rose to bankfull and required sandbagging. In Littleton, Beaver Brook overflowed its banks and flooded local property there. During the evening hours of June 13th, small stream flooding continued along several streams in Middlesex, Norfolk, and Bristol Counties. In Norfolk County, in Franklin, the Mill Brook flooded homes while other brooks and streams were in flood. In Middlesex County, the Aberjona River was reported out of its banks in Winchester; the Alewife Brook flooded a portion of Route 16 in Arlington; and the Mystic River rose out of its banks in Medford. In Bristol County, in Somerset, the Buffington Brook flooded a portion of Route 128. During the morning of June 14th, the small stream flooding continued. In Bristol County, in Norton, the Wading River was in flood, based on a gage report. In Middlesex County, in Wilmington, the Shawsheen River was in flood based on gage reports and in Waltham, flooding occurred along the Lower Charles River. In Essex County, in Peabody, flooding occurred along the Procter and Goldwaith Brooks, with significant street flooding reported in several areas. By 1 PM in the early afternoon of the 14th, flooding was reported in Lawrence in Essex County along the Shawsheen River and a portion of Route 114 was flooded. The following are the reports of flooding along the larger rivers. The Neponset River at Norwood reached flood stage of 9 feet at 2:45 PM on June 13th, crested at 10.87 feet at 10:15 AM on the 14th, and fell below flood stage at 4 AM on June 17th. The Charles River at Dover reached flood stage of 5 feet at 9 AM on June 15th, crested at 6.8 feet at 8 PM on the 18th, and fell below flood stage at 9:40 PM on June 19th. The Assabet River at Maynard reached flood stage of 5 feet at 1 PM on June 14th, crested at 5.49 feet at 5 AM on the 15th, and fell below flood stage at 3 AM on June 17th. The Nashua River at East Pepperell reached flood stage of 8 feet at 2 PM on June 15th, crested at 8.23 feet at 2 AM on the 16th, and dropped below flood stage at 2:30 PM on the 16th. The Ipswich River in Ipswich in Essex County reached flood stage of 7 feet at 11 PM on June 15th, crested at 7.20 feet at noon on the 17th, then fell below flood stage at 10 PM on June 18th. On June 16th, the following reports were received for towns in Middlesex, Essex, and Worcester Counties. In Malden, the Malden River was in flood at 8:15 AM; in Winchendon at 8:30 AM, the Aberjona River was still over its banks, but receding; in Methuen at 8:40 AM, the Spicket River was still in flood and evacuations had occurred downstream to Lawrence and the river was still rising. In Lawrence, officials evacuated about 60 people from flooded multi-family homes in a four block area after power and natural gas had been turned off for safety reasons. Also, on June 16th, in Tewksbury at 8:45 AM, the Shawsheen River was in flood and numerous road closures were reported in surrounding towns. In South Tewksbury, three roads were flooded along with many homes and businesses. One bridge was knocked out by the flooding. On June 16th, in Bristol County, the following small streams were flooded: in Taunton at 9:30 AM, the Taunton River was out of its banks flooding West Water Street; in Attleboro at 9:40 AM, the Three Mile River was still out of its banks with numerous road closures; in Norton at 9:45 AM, the Wading River was still over its banks. The Concord River at Lowell reached flood stage of 8 feet at 5 AM on June 17th, crested at 8.05 feet at 10 AM on June 18th, and fell below flood stage at midnight at the end of the day on June 20th. The Merrimack River at Lowell reached flood stage of 52 feet at 8 AM on June 17th, crested at 52.8 feet at 1 AM on the 18th, the fell below flood stage at 7 PM on the 18th. The Merrimack River at Lawrence reached flood stage of 20 feet at 6 PM on June 17th, crested at 21 feet at 1 AM on the 19th, and fell below flood stage at 6 AM on the 19th. The Merrimack River at Haverhill reached flood stage of 15 feet at 5 AM on June 18th, crested at 15.8 feet at 2 PM the same day, then fell below flood stage at 8 PM on the 18th. On June 16th, in Worcester County in Gardner, a bolt of lightning started a fire which caused $15,000 damage to a garage. Damage estimates for the city of Boston ranged from $9 to $17 million in total property damage and about 10,000 homes were reporting moderate to minor damage, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Another $1 million damage was done to roads and $150,000 damage to school buildings.