Flash Flooding and Flooding in Connecticut, September 16 to 19, 1999

Tropical Storm Floyd brought torrential rainfall and strong winds to northern Connecticut, as it tracked up the Connecticut River valley into central Massachusetts. Although many areas received torrential rainfall, with totals between 4 and 8 inches, the heaviest rain fell in western Hartford County where as much as 10.80 inches was reported in Bristol. The rainfall produced widespread flooding of low lying areas, especially in Hartford County. Smaller rivers such as the Quinnipiac, North Branch Park, and Burlington Brook rose rapidly out of their banks as the heavy rain arrives late in the afternoon and early in the evening on the 16th. Crests of 2 to 3 feet above flood stage occurred by daybreak on the 17th. The Farmington River went into flood at Unionville from 11 pm on the 16th to 413 am on the 17th, cresting a foot above flood stage at 1 am on the 17th. At Simsbury, the Farmington went into flood at 715 am on the 17th and crested about a foot over flood stage at 930 pm on the 17th, before returning to its banks at 215 pm on the 18th. The longer responding Connecticut River rose out of its banks in Hartford at 1259 am on the 18th, and crested at 17.2 feet at 130 pm on the 19th, which is about a foot over its 16 foot flood stage. It returned to its banks at 132 am on the 19th. Farther downstream at Middletown, the Connecticut went into flood at 1050 am on the 18th, and crested at 8.8 feet at 1115 am on the 19th, almost a foot above its 8 foot flood stage. It returned to its banks at 846 pm that same day. Surprisingly, no flood damage was reported, even in those areas where the smaller rivers rose rapidly.Strong winds were also felt in northern Connecticut as Floyd passed. There were scattered reports of small trees or branches downed, which did not cause significant damage.