Connecticut, 1999

Flash Flood and High Wind in Connecticut, September 16 to 17, 1999

September 16 to 17, 1999 · NWS ALY · 2 events in 1 county or zone

The remnants of Hurricane Floyd moved up the eastern seaboard on September 16 and during the early hours on September 17. The storm brought both high winds and exceptionally heavy rainfall to northwestern Connecticut, which included a large swath of 5 to 8 inch amounts.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1.2 million
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 ALY wrote it up.

The remnants of Hurricane Floyd moved up the eastern seaboard on September 16 and during the early hours on September 17. The storm brought both high winds and exceptionally heavy rainfall to northwestern Connecticut, which included a large swath of 5 to 8 inch amounts. Specific rainfall amounts included 5.20 inches at Falls Village, 6.35 inches at Colebrook Dam, 7.89 inches at Bulls Bridge and 8.28 inches at Bakersville. The rain produced widespread flooding across the region , which proved very destructive. Significant flooding was noted on many tributaries, including the Housatonic, and Shepaug Rivers in addition to many smaller streams. The rains not only flooded many roadways but washed out portions of them. One of these washouts included Route 7 in several areas including the Veterans Plaza in New Milford. The Housatanic spilled over at Oxford and Sheltan resulting in as many as 35 families being forced to evacuate. Many communities declared a State of Emergency during the overnight of September 16 and 17. The rains, combined with the left-over rain from Tropical Storm Dennis, a week earlier, virtually ended the fourteen month drought across the region. Winds from the passage of Floyd were estimated to have gusted to over 60 mph across mainly the hilltowns. The combination of the wind and very saturated ground, produced widespread downing of trees and power lines across much of Litchfield county. Some of the trees fell on vehicles and houses. The rain and wind produced power outages across the region with as many as 5,000 left in the dark.

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Litchfield

When
September 16, 6:00 PM EST to September 17, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Litchfield County, Countywide
Property damage
$1.1 million
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.847, -73.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Litchfield

When
September 16, 6:25 PM EST to September 17, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Litchfield forecast zone, Countywide
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.847, -73.221 (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.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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, September 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: 5718038, 5718037.