Connecticut, 1999

Flash Flooding in Connecticut, January 15, 1999

January 15, 1999 · NWS OKX · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

In Fairfield County, up to 3 feet of water collected under road overpasses in Bridgeport. In New London County, up to 4 feet of water collected along the Rte.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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 OKX wrote it up.

A combination of heavy rain falling on frozen ground, snow and ice melting, and partially clogged storm drains, caused widespread flash flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas across the region.In Fairfield County, up to 3 feet of water collected under road overpasses in Bridgeport. Widespread and significant street flooding also occurred in Stamford, Norwalk, and Stratford as well as in Danbury.In New Haven County, significant widespread street and basement flooding occurred in New Haven, Hamden, Waterbury, and Meriden.In New London County, up to 4 feet of water collected along the Rte. 2/32 connector and 2 feet of water ponded along parts of Glenn Street and Rte. 165 in Montville. Widespread street flooding was reported in Norwich.Rainfall amounts ranged from 0.86 inches at Groton to 1.56 inches at Madison.Icing also occurred across the region from January 14th through the early morning hours of the 15th. It downed scattered tree limbs that resulted in scattered power outages.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Fairfield

When
January 15, 10:00 AM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Greenwich
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.326, -73.447 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, New Haven

When
January 15, 10:00 AM EST
Where
New Haven County, New Haven
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.362, -72.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Fairfield

When
January 15, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Danbury
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.326, -73.447 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, New Haven

When
January 15, 11:00 AM EST
Where
New Haven County, Waterbury
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.362, -72.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Middlesex

When
January 15, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Middlesex County, Countywide
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.451, -72.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, New London

When
January 15, 11:00 AM EST
Where
New London County, Countywide
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.504, -72.101 (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

More

Every storm in Connecticut in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, January 1999

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: 5696196, 5696197, 5696198, 5696199, 5696200, 5696201.