Flood in Pennsylvania, April 2 to 3, 2005

Name: Flood in Pennsylvania, April 2 to 3, 2005
Start: 2005-04-02T16:22
End: 2005-04-03T05:54
Location: Pennsylvania

April 2 to 3, 2005 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 1

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 PHI wrote it up.

Heavy rain fell across Philadelphia and caused widespread poor drainage flooding on the 2nd and stream and river flooding on the 2nd and 3rd. Rain started late in the evening on the 1st and continued throughout the day on the 2nd. The rain fell at its heaviest during the afternoon of the 2nd. The rain tapered off to some spottier light rain or drizzle during the evening and overnight and ended during the morning on the 3rd. Storm totals averaged around 3 inches with higher amounts over the source region of some of the streams in Montgomery County. The heavy rain and flooding caused the closure of Kelly Drive and Lincoln Drive along the Schuylkill River and Delaware Avenue along the Delaware River. The Schuylkill River within Philadelphia was above its 11 foot flood stage from 9 p.m. EST on the 2nd through 1239 p.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 11.74 feet at 430 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. The Pennypack Creek at the Rhawn Street Bridge was above its 7 foot flood stage from 538 p.m. EST on the 2nd through 408 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 9.74 feet at 1245 a.m. EST on the 3rd. The Wissahickon Creek at its mouth with the Schuylkill River was above its 5 foot flood stage from 422 p.m. EST on the 2nd through 654 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 7.81 feet at 145 a.m. EST on the 3rd. The Frankford Creek at Castor Avenue was above its 7 foot flood stage from 510 p.m through 612 p.m. EST on the 2nd. It crested at 7.4 feet at 545 p.m. EST. The Delaware River at Pier 11 in Philadelphia caused moderate tidal flooding at the time of the evening high tide on the 2nd. The high tide reached 9.59 feet above mean lower low water at 754 p.m. EST on the 2nd and was above minor tidal flooding levels (8.2 feet above mean lower low water) from 544 p.m. EST through 1002 p.m. EST on the 2nd. Some additional minor tidal flooding occurred during the morning high tide cycle the next three mornings. Specific storm totals included 2.85 inches at the Philadelphia International Airport and 2.74 inches at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The flooding heavy rain was caused by a low pressure system that moved from the southern Gulf Coast States on the morning of April 1st northeast to the eastern Tennessee Valley during the evening of the 1st, to far western Virginia just after Midnight EST on the 2nd, into central Virginia at 7 a.m. EST on the 2nd, near Washington, D.C. at 1 p.m. EST on the 2nd, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania at 7 p.m. EST on the 2nd, near Scranton, Pennsylvania at 1 a.m. EST on the 3rd, over the Finger Lakes in New York at 8 a.m. EDT on the 3rd and into eastern Lake Ontario at 2 p.m. EDT on the 3rd. The strong southeast flow preceding the low pressure system was able to entrain Atlantic Ocean moisture in addition to the Gulf of Mexico moisture into the system. The southeast flow also was ideal for orographic lifting in the Poconos and other higher terrain. The flooding was exacerbated by the already wet soil conditions due to heavy rain on both March 23rd and 28th. In addition, along the Delaware River, snowmelt in the upper basin in New York State and because the New York City Delaware County, New York reservoirs were already at capacity added to the flooding.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 2, 4:07 PM EST, 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 4:07 PM EST, 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
407 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL WAS OCCURRING IN ADVANCE OF THE
COLD/OCCLUDED FRONT THAT LINED UP WELL WITH THE MID LEVEL DRY SLOT
SHOWING UP ON GUIDANCE AND ON SAT PIX. FAIRLY DEEP SERLY FLOW, A
DROP IN EQUIV POT TEMP WITH HEIGHT ABOVE THE SFC LAYER, AND AN
IMPRESSIVE PLUME OF MOISTURE OUT OF THE GULF ALL COMING TOGETHER TO
PRODUCE FLOODING RAINS. WE HAVE TRIED TO TIME IT ALL WITH REGARD TO
THE FORECAST, WITH THE FLOOD WATCH TIMED INTO THE EVENING CLOSER TO
THE BACK EDGE OF THE PCPN AND FOR TOINGHT FURTHER NE. LOOKS THAT THE
SRN ZONES WILL BREAK OUT OF THE STEADY RAIN BY EVENING, BUT APPROACH
OF UPPER LOW SHOULD BRING BACK SHOWER ACTIVITY OVERNIGHT. SOME OF
THE VERY STRONG WINDS OFF THE SURFACE ARE MAKING IT DOWN TO THE
SURFACE, BUT WE BELIEVE THE SHALLOW MARINE LAYER INDICATED BY MODEL
SOUNDINGS PRECLUDE SYNOPTIC SCALE SUSTAINED WINDS AND GUSTS IN THE
WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA, AND WE HAVE OPTED TO HANDLE ANY STRONGER
WINDS AND GUSTS WITH SHORT FUSED PRODUCTS. TEMPS HAVE RISEN NICELY
WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE WARM FRONT, BUT SHOULD DROP AGAIN AS UPPER
LOW MOVES CLOSE TO THE AREA OVERNIGHT.

TOMORROW THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER LOW MADE US KEEP SHOWER
ACTIVITY IN ALL ZONES, RANGING FROM CHANCE DOWN SOUTH TO CATEGORICAL
UP NORTH. WE PRESENTLY BELIEVE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AFTER TONIGHT
SHOULD DROP CONSIDERABLY, BUT ANY RAIN WOULD BE UNWELCOME AFTER WHAT
WE ARE GETTING THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. WE SHOULD CERTAINLY SEE
THE CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURES REACHED, CONSISTENT WITH THE SHOWER AND
CLOUD FORECASTS. THOSE ARE RATHER COOL AND SUBSEQUENTLY WE WENT WITH
COOLER STAT GUIDANCE.

THE LOW LIFTING OUT LEAVES ONLY THE FAR NWRN ZONES WITH PCPN CHANCES
TOMORROW NIGHT, BUT GIVEN SOUNDINGS HAD TO MENTION THE PSBLTY OF
SNOW SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. DRYING US OUT FOR MON, WITH H8 TEMPS
CONSISTENT WITH PREV FORECASTS AND STAT GUIDANCE.

&&

.LONG TERM (MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)...
NO SIG CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE EXTENDED. THE PREV AFD DISCUSSION:
A BRIEF PERIOD OF DRY WEATHER IN STORE FOR MID WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS TO THE MID ATLANTIC, BUT ANOTHER LOW WILL BE WRAPPING UP OVER
THE LAKES AND PULLING IN SOME COLDER AIR WHICH AGAIN WOULD LEAD TO A
MENTION OF RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS. OTHER THAN THAT, DONT PLAN ON GETTING
MUCH MORE DETAILED WITH IMMEDIATE THREAT AT HAND. THIS NEXT SYSTEM
WILL NOT HAVE THE QPF POTENTIAL, BUT WELL HAVE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT
FALLS BY SUNDAY MORNING AND EVEN A HALF INCH COULD BRING ADDITIONAL
PROBLEMS IN SOME VULNERABLE AREAS.

&&

.AVIATION...
IFR CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE REGION AT LEAST THE NEXT
COUPLE HOURS ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN ZONES AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS
FURTHER NORTH. A DRY SLOT, CURRENTLY WORKING UP INTO THE VIRGINIAS,
IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA. WRAP AROUND MOISTURE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE MID-LEVEL LOW WILL AFFECT THE REGION TOWARD DAYBREAK. ONCE
WE LOSE THE IFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT, MVFR SHOULD BE COMMON THROUGH
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

&&

.MARINE...
BASED ON PORTS DATA AND SURROUNDING LAND-BASED OBSERVATIONS, GALES
HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE UPPER BAY. NO CHANGES WITH THE HEADLINES
ELSEWHERE. GALES ARE EXPECTED TO TRANSITION TO SCAS ON SUNDAY.

THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDS WILL INTENSIFY
OVER VIRGINIA AND MOVE NORTHEAST INTO PENNSYLVANIA TONIGHT AND THEN
NEW YORK STATE ON SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLOWLY BUILD OVER THE
MARINE AREA MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. LOW PRESSURE WITH A
FRONTAL ZONE WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST WEDNESDAY NIGHT OR
THURSDAY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND THE AREA THROUGH 300 PM WERE GENERALLY IN
THE 1.50 TO 2.00 INCH RANGE, WITH THE BACK EDGE COINCIDING WITH THE
MID LEVEL DRY SLOW JUST NE OF THE VIRGINIA NORTHERN NECK. GIVEN
TIMING OF BACK EDGE, TOTALS GENERALLY IN THE 2.00 TO 4.50 INCH RANGE
SEEM POSSIBLE AND CERTAINLY WARRANT CONTINUATION OF THE WATCH. POOR
DRAINAGE FLOODING, SMALL STREAM AND CREEK FLOODING, LARGER STREAM
FLOODING AND ULTIMATELY RIVER FLOODING ARE ALL ON THE TABLE, WITH
SOME OF THAT FLOODING POSSIBLY MAJOR IN NATURE.

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...FLOOD WATCH PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071
NJ...FLOOD WATCH NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>020-027
DE...FLOOD WATCH DEZ001
MD...FLOOD WATCH MDZ008-012
MARINE...GALE WARNING ANZ430-431-450>455

&&

SHORT TERM...NYY
LONG TERM...EBERWINE
AVIATION/MARINE...KRUZDLO
HYDROLOGY...ZEV

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 4:46 AM EST, 11 hours 36 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
446 AM EST SAT APR 2 2005

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-030945-
ATLANTIC NJ-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-BERKS PA-BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ-
CAPE MAY NJ-CARBON PA-CAROLINE MD-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-
COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-COASTAL OCEAN NJ-CUMBERLAND NJ-DELAWARE PA-
DELAWARE BEACHES DE-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ-GLOUCESTER NJ-HUNTERDON NJ-
INLAND SUSSEX DE-KENT MD-KENT DE-LEHIGH PA-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ-
MONROE PA-MONTGOMERY PA-MORRIS NJ-NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHAMPTON PA-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-QUEEN ANNES MD-
SALEM NJ-SOMERSET NJ-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON NJ-SUSSEX NJ-TALBOT MD-
WARREN NJ-WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALLENTOWN...ATLANTIC CITY...BETHLEHEM...
CAMDEN...DOVER...NEW BRUNSWICK...NEWARK...PERTH AMBOY...
PHILADELPHIA...READING...TRENTON...VINELAND AND WILMINGTON
446 AM EST SAT APR 2 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, THE NORTHERN MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE AND NEW
JERSEY, EXCLUDING THE FIVE NORTHEAST COUNTIES.

.DAY ONE...

A VERY BUSY AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS DAY FOR FLOODING IN SOME AREAS AS
HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS COVER THE ENTIRE REGION WITH
RAINFALL AMOUNTS ANYWHERE FROM 1.5 TO 3 INCHES WITH SOME AMOUNTS
REACHING 4 OR 5 INCHES IN THE SOUTHERN POCONOS AND NORTHWEST NEW
JERSEY. THIS MAY CAUSE FLOODING ON STREAMS AND CREEKS AND IN
AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. SEE THE FLOOD WATCH AND SPECIAL WEATHER
STATEMENTS...FFAPHI AND SPSPHI...FOR DETAILS.

GALE FORCE WINDS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE JERSEY AND DELAWARE COASTS AND
MINOR TIDAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE.

SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY REACH SEVERE IN SOUTHERN DELAWARE, EXTREME
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND PARTS OF MARYLANDS EASTERN SHORE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

THE HEAVY RAIN WILL END BUT THE FLOODING FROM THE STORM WILL CONTINUE
INTO SUNDAY. WIDESPREAD FLOODING COULD EXIST ON
MANY RIVERS/STREAMS/CREEKS AND IN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE THROUGH
SUNDAY. SEE THE FLOOD WATCH AND SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS...FFAPHI
AND SPSPHI...FOR DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS EXPECTED TODAY INTO SUNDAY.

EBERWINE

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 2, 10:36 AM EST, 5 hours 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1036 AM EST SAT APR 2 2005

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ016>018-021>025-PAZ067-068-070-
071-030034-
ATLANTIC NJ-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-CAMDEN NJ-CAPE MAY NJ-
CAROLINE MD-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-CUMBERLAND NJ-
DELAWARE PA-DELAWARE BEACHES DE-GLOUCESTER NJ-INLAND SUSSEX DE-
KENT MD-KENT DE-MONTGOMERY PA-NEW CASTLE DE-PHILADELPHIA PA-
QUEEN ANNES MD-SALEM NJ-TALBOT MD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC CITY...CAMDEN...DOVER...NEWARK...
PHILADELPHIA...VINELAND AND WILMINGTON
1036 AM EST SAT APR 2 2005

...HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...

INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE OVER VIRGINIA WILL TRACK NORTH THIS
AFTERNOON INTO MARYLAND. THE LOW WILL THEN SLOWLY DRIFT INTO
PENNSYLVANIA TONIGHT AND INTO NEW YORK AROUND MIDDAY ON SUNDAY.

THIS IS A VERY WET SYSTEM AND WILL BRING A DRENCHING RAIN TO THE
REGION WITH TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS AVERAGING AROUND ONE AND ONE-HALF
INCHES TO THREE INCHES. A HALF INCH TO ONE INCH OF RAIN HAS ALREADY
FALLEN ACROSS THE REGION.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON, AND SOME MAY
BECOME SEVERE. WIND DAMAGE WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS
AS HEAVY DOWNPOURS HELP TO TRANSPORT STRONG WINDS ALOFT DOWN TO THE
SURFACE. WITH THE RECENT RAINS AND MORE TO COME THIS AFTERNOON, THE
GROUND IS QUITE SATURATED. DOWNED TREES AND POWERLINES ARE POSSIBLE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
SITUATION, AND WILL ISSUE ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS, WATCHES OR WARNINGS
IF THEY BECOME NECESSARY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER
RADIO, OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET FOR CONTINUED UPDATES.

FOR COMPLETE WEATHER INFORMATION, VISIT US ON THE WEB AT,
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ER/PHI (IN LOWERCASE).

KRUZDLO

Local storm report, Apr 2, 2:29 PM EST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
229 PM EST SAT APR 02 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KINGSTOWN               39.21N 76.05W
04/02/2005                   QUEEN ANNES       MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A COUPLE OF TREES DOWNED ALONG THE KENT AND QUEEN ANNES
            COUNTY BORDER.

0135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHESTERTOWN             39.22N 76.07W
04/02/2005                   KENT               MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A COUPLE OF TREES DOWNED ON THE KENT AND QUEEN ANNES
            COUNTY BORDER.

0200 PM     HEAVY RAIN       MOUNT POCONO            41.12N 75.36W
04/02/2005  0.00 INCH        MONROE             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING REPORTED IN LONG POND. SOME ROADS BECOMING
            IMPASSABLE.

&&

GORSE

Special weather statement, Apr 2, 3:50 PM EST, 32 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - MINOR TIDAL FLOODING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
350 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

DEZ001>004-NJZ012>014-016>026-PAZ069>071-031000-
ATLANTIC NJ-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ-
CAPE MAY NJ-COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-COASTAL OCEAN NJ-CUMBERLAND NJ-
DELAWARE PA-DELAWARE BEACHES DE-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ-GLOUCESTER NJ-
INLAND SUSSEX DE-KENT DE-MIDDLESEX NJ-NEW CASTLE DE-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-SALEM NJ-
WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC CITY...CAMDEN...DOVER...
NEW BRUNSWICK...NEWARK...PERTH AMBOY...PHILADELPHIA...
VINELAND AND WILMINGTON
350 PM EST SAT APR 2 2005

...MINOR TIDAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT...

INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE MOVING THROUGH THE CENTRAL MID ATLANTIC
REGION THIS EVENING WILL MOVE NORTH INTO PENNSYLVANIA TONIGHT AND
THEN NORTHEAST INTO EASTERN NEW YORK STATE BY SUNDAY EVENING.

GALE FORCE WINDS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS WILL PERSIST THROUGH MOST
OF TONIGHT ALONG THE NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE COASTS. WIND DIRECTIONS
WILL SHIFT FROM SOUTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST BY MORNING, BUT A MOSTLY
ONSHORE FLOW WILL PREVAIL FOR MUCH OF TONIGHT.

ABOVE NORMAL TIDES WILL RESULT, AND THIS COULD PRODUCE MINOR TIDAL
FLOODING AROUND THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE TONIGHT ON THE DELAWARE AND
NEW JERSEY OCEANFRONTS. FLOODING MAY ALSO OCCUR ON DELAWARE BAY AND
FURTHER UP ON THE DELAWARE RIVER AS THE STRONG SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH
WINDS CONTINUE TO PUSH IN THE WATER. HIGH TIDE ALONG THE DELAWARE
AND NEW JERSEY OCEANFRONT WILL OCCUR FROM 3 TO 5 AM. HIGH TIDE
OCCURS LATER ON THE BAYS AND TIDAL RIVERS AND STREAMS. ALTHOUGH WIND
DIRECTIONS ARE NOT IDEAL FOR TIDAL FLOODING ALONG THE RARITAN
BAYSHORE, MINOR TIDAL FLOODING MAY ALSO OCCUR THERE TONIGHT.

DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS, THE WATER MAY BE DEEPER THAN YOU
THINK IT IS.  ALSO, DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE AT A LOCATION THAT IS
PRONE TO TIDAL FLOODING. REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

FOR COMPLETE WEATHER INFORMATION, VISIT US ON THE WEB AT,
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ER/PHI (IN LOWERCASE).

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Philadelphia

When: April 2, 4:22 PM EST to April 3, 5:54 AM EST
Where: Philadelphia forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.000, -76.317

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, April 2005

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: 5449427.