Flash Flood in Pennsylvania, April 1 to 2, 1998

A series of thunderstorms with heavy rain moved across Montgomery County the second half of the afternoon and the evening of the 1st. They caused flooding of streams and creeks as well as considerable urban and poor drainage flooding especially in the lower half of the county. Small stream flooding began in Montgomery and Whitpain Townships as the Park and Prophecy Creeks overflowed their banks and forced road closures. Poor drainage and small stream flooding also forced the closure of three roadways in Upper and Lower Gwynedd Township including a 5 mile stretch of U.S. Route 202 at 6 p.m. EST. The DeKalb Avenue Bridge in Norristown was also closed because of flooding during the evening commute. Farther north runoff from the heavy rain caused the Perkiomen Creek at Schwenksville to overflow its banks (Flood stage estimated at 7 feet.) between 230 a.m. EST and 6 a.m. EST on the 2nd. It crested at 7.4 feet at 130 a.m. EST. Storm totals included 2.37 inches in Valley Forge, 1.95 inches in Norristown and 1.93 inches at the Willow Grove N.A.S. No serious injuries or property damage were reported.