Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Maryland, September 9, 1999

Another round of thunderstorms producing damaging winds and very heavy rainfall moved across Central Maryland between 5:30 PM and 11:00 PM EDT. Several locations reported flooding and downed trees and power lines. In Montgomery County, Sligo Creek along Colesville Road, and Rock Creek went out of their banks. East-West Highway and Beach Drive flooded and a nearby recreational center had to be evacuated. Streets were flooded in Kensington, and a water rescue was reported in Chevy Chase. In Prince Georges County, the Patuxent River Water Filtration Plant at Laurel recorded a total of 3.55 inches of rain. In Howard County, many roads and creeks were flooded in Columbia, Ellicot City, and Elkridge. On Highway 1 between Highway 100 and Montgomery Road, many portions of the roadway were flooded and cars were stalled in hood-high water. A few homes near the community of Dorsey were surrounded by water. Winds also gusted between 50 and 60 MPH in Columbia and Dorsey, knocking down trees and power lines and sending 15,000 county residents into the dark. Rainfall amounts included 7.39 inches just north of Columbia and 5.98 inches just west of Elkridge. In Baltimore County, Jones Creek went out of its banks, and roads were flooded in downtown Baltimore. One location in the Baltimore area received 3.6 inches of rain in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Winds gusting between 50 and 60 MPH also downed trees and power lines in Baltimore, resulting in 23,000 electrical outages.