Flash Flood and Flood in Pennsylvania, June 27 to 29, 2006

Name: Flash Flood and Flood in Pennsylvania, June 27 to 29, 2006
Start: 2006-06-27T19:11
End: 2006-06-29T21:08
Location: Pennsylvania

June 27 to 29, 2006 · NWS PHI · 2 events in 1 county or zone

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $6.0 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 PHI wrote it up.

Several days of heavy rain throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania culminated with major flooding along the Brandywine Basin and moderate flooding along Schuylkill River from the 27th through the 29th. President George W. Bush declared Chester County a disaster area. Sporadic periods of heavy rain started on the 23rd, but the most widespread and heaviest rain fell from the night of the 27th into the morning of the 28th. During bursts of heavier rain on the 28th, flash flooding of smaller streams occurred and the ongoing flooding along the main stem rivers was exacerbated. Event totals in Chester County averaged six to twelve inches.Governor Ed Rendell declared a disaster emergency in the state on the 28th. In Eastern Pennsylvania approximately 5000 homes, apartments and businesses were damaged. Many homes had their basement appliances and furniture ruined. The disaster area declaration made individual and public assistance possible. Numerous roads were damaged and closed. Even the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Montgomery County was closed. Flooding damaged and forced the closure of twenty-two Pennsylvania State Parks. Emergency responders told people to not walk into flooded waters because it might contain sewage and other contaminants. Many homes also had oil in their basements from ruptured tanks. There was also concern about persons with individual wells having their drinking water compromised. An explosion of mold and mosquitoes was expected in the wake of the flood. Crops closest to the ground were also impacted by the flood and included cabbage, cucumbers, strawberries, spinach and squash. In Chester County about 700 homes were damaged by the flooding, nearly 300 suffered major damage and four homes were destroyed, all in North Coventry Township. Two sewage treatment plants, one water treatment plant and one business were also badly damaged. The drinking water plants were shut down through as late as the 29th in Phoenixville and Downingtown. Dozens of major roads were closed including Pennsylvania State Route 29 near the Schuylkill River and Pennsylvania State Routes 1 and 100 near the Brandywine Creek. Several water rescues were performed including saving a 73-year-old man from the top of a floating minivan in Caln Township and a motorist that swept into the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek in Honey Brook. The worst damage was concentrated along North Coventry Township on the Schuylkill River and the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek in Downingtown. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Downingtown, North Coventry, East Bradford, East Vincent and Pocopson as several shelters were opened in the county. In North Coventry Township, 156 homes were damaged (four more were destroyed) as flood waters from the Schuylkill River reached the first floor. The Wampler Sports Complex was so badly damaged that it was closed for the remainder of the summer baseball season. In South Coventry Township, 350 homes and businesses were flooded. In Downingtown, about 200 homes were flooded. Businesses were damaged on West Lincoln Highway. Many vehicles were damaged and Kerr Park was flooded. In the Lyndell Section of East Brandywine Township, flooding reached into the first floor of some homes. Flood damage was also reported in Caln Township, East Caln Township, Upper Uwchlan (where March Lake overflowed) and Uwchlan Township.The Schuylkill River at Pottstown (Montgomery County) had moderate flooding. It was above its 13 foot flood stage from 811 p.m. EDT on the 27th through 1008 p.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 20.53 feet at 215 a.m. EDT on the 29th. Farther downstream in Norristown (Montgomery County), flooding was also moderate. The Schuylkill River was above its 17 foot flood stage from 1001 a.m. EDT through 1101 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 19.03 feet at 315 p.m. EDT. The West Branch of the Brandywine Creek was above its 7 foot flood stage from 810 p.m. EDT through 1103 p.m. EDT on the 27th. It crested at 7.51 feet at 915 p.m. EDT. The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek at Downingtown was above its 7 foot flood stage from 315 a.m. EDT through 540 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 14.38 feet at 8 a.m. EDT. It was the highest crest of the four times the creek flooded since the 24th. The main stem of the Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford (Delaware County) had major flooding. It was above its 9 foot flood from 545 a.m. EDT through 1115 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 13.33 feet at 145 p.m. EDT. French Creek at Phoenixville was above its 8 foot flood stage from 319 a.m. EDT through 245 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 12.19 feet at 530 a.m. EDT. The White Clay Creek at Strickersville was above its 9.5 foot flood stage from 545 a.m. EDT through 631 a.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 9.56 feet at 6 a.m. EDT. The Red Clay Creek at Kennett Square was above its 9.5 foot flood stage from 344 a.m. EDT through 922 a.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 8.85 feet at 645 a.m. EDT. The Valley Creek at Valley Forge was above its 7 foot flood stage from 352 a.m. EDT through 938 a.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 8.8 feet at 545 a.m. EDT. Actual storm rainfall totals included 12.80 inches in Exton, 12.00 inches in Strickerville and 8.80 inches in Glenmoore and 7.25 inches in Longwood Gardens.

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 Jun 27, 2:30 PM EST, 4 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 27, 2:30 PM EST, 4 hours 41 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
330 PM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
MUCH OF THE DAY SPENT REFINING THE POTENTIAL FLOODING SITUATION
ACROSS CWA. THE FLOOD WATCHES WILL REMAIN AS EARLIER POSTED. TODAY
IS A CASE WHERE MORE INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THE DIFFERENT
PRODUCTS BEING ISSUED TODAY, SO NOT SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS
DISCUSSION. TROPICAL FEED CONTINUES AND WE AWAIT THE REMNANTS OFTHE
LOW MOVING ONSHORE IN NC. UPPER FLOW HAS NO WHERE FOR THE SYSTEM TO
GO EXCEPT THROUGH OUR CWA. THE CONVECTION FROM THE APPROACHING FRONT
AND THE TROP FEED WILL RAIN THEMSELVES OUT OVER OUR CFW.

MAIN CONCERN WILL BE WITH SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STREAMS THAT
FLOOD QUICKLY. WITH THE GROUND SATURATED AND THE RIVERS RUNNING
HIGH, THIS NEW HEAVY RAIN EVENT MAY CAUSE SOME TO COME OUT OF THEIR
BANKS DURING THE LATE NIGHT HOURS. THE NIGHTTIME MAKES THE SITUATION
FAR WORSE ESPECIALLY IF ANY RESCUES/SEARCHES ARE NECESSARY. SO
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF
YOU LIVE NEAR A STREAM. LATEST THINKING IS 3.5 INCHES OVER A WIDE
AREA AND PERHAPS SOME ISOLATED SPOTS IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES.
CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN
ESPECIALLY IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS. AS A RESULT, FLOODING WILL
CERTAINLY OCCUR ON THE SMALL FLASHY STREAMS.

NOTE...OUR WEB SITE HAS BEEN OVERLOADED DUE TO THE WEATHER SO PLEASE
HAVE PATIENCE WHEN GETTING THE INFORMATION, OR TUNE TO THE NOAA
WEATHER RADIO.

THANKS TO ALL EOC/OEMS FOR THEIR INPUT TODAY AND FOR THE
COORDINATION FROM SURROUNDING WFOS AND THE MARFC.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
THE SHORT TERM TO SPILL INTO THE LONG TERM AS REGION CONTINUES UNDER
DEEP TROUGH INITIALLY THEN BROAD CYCLONIC FLOW INTO THE WEEKEND.
RESULT WILL BE OCNL SHOWERS/CHC OF TSTMS THROUGH THE PERIOD. NOT
ANTICIPATING MUCH CHANGE FROM GUID FOR TEMPERATURES.

&&

.AVIATION...
PREDOMINATELY MVFR CIGS AND P6SM VSBYS WORKING WELL WITH THE CURRENT
SITUATION. TEMPO GROUPS FOR LOWER VSBYS FOR AREAS THAT SEEM TO HAVE
PERSISTENT SHOWERS (KABE AND KRDG). CONDITIONS DETERIORATE OVERNIGHT
WITH APPROACH OF LOW CENTER. IFR CONDITIONS ONCE THE RAINS BEGINS.
WINDS SWITCH AROUND FROM E OR SE TO SW TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

&&

.MARINE...
IN COORDINATIONS WITH AKQ, WE HAVE RAISED THE GALE FLAG FOR GUSTS
ALONG THE SOUTHERN NJ WATERS AND DE BAY. MODELS NOT PERFECT WITH THE
WIND SPEEDS WITH THE SYSTEM AND HIGHER THAN GUIDANCE WINDS SEEM THE
WAY TO GO WITH THIS ONE. SCA WILL REMAIN ALONG THE UPPER NJ COAST
FOR NOW, BUT WILL ADVISE THE NEXT SHIFT TO WATCH THINGS THERE.
CONDITIONS IMPROVE ONCE THE LOW MOVES AWAY WED AFTERNOON.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
SEE OVERVIEW AND STATEMENTS.

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ... FOR PAZ069>071 FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO NOON WEDNESDAY.
NJ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NJZ001-007>010-012>027 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ... FOR NJZ016>019-021-023 FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO NOON WEDNESDAY.
DE... FOR DEZ001>003 FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO NOON WEDNESDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR DEZ001>004 UNTIL 8 AM WEDNESDAY.
MD...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FOR MDZ008-012-015-019-020 FROM 10 PM
     TUESDAY TO 2 PM WEDNESDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MDZ008-012-015-019-020 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
MARINE...GALE WARNING FOR ANZ430-431-453>455 UNTIL NOON WEDNESDAY.
  ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ANZ450>452 UNTIL 8 PM WEDNESDAY.
&&

OVERVIEW/SHORT TERM...EBERWINE
LONG TERM...GIGI
MARINE/AVIATION...OHARA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 27, 9:51 AM EST, 9 hours 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1051 AM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

ANZ430-431-450>455-470-DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-
007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-281000-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO GREAT EGG INLET NJ OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM GREAT EGG INLET TO CAPE MAY NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE MAY NJ TO CAPE HENLOPEN DE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE HENLOPEN TO FENWICK ISLAND DE OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK ISLAND DE FROM 20 TO 40 NM-
NEW CASTLE-KENT DE-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-
QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-
SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-
GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-
ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-
COASTAL OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-
NORTHAMPTON-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-
1051 AM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE
ENTIRE AREA. PLEASE REFER TO WGUS61 FOR FURTHER DETAILS. MINOR TIDAL
FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE HIGH TIDES TODAY AND TONIGHT IN
CHESAPEAKE BAY. MINOR TIDAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE HIGH
TIDE TONIGHT IN DELAWARE BAY AND ALONG TIDAL SECTIONS OF THE
DELAWARE RIVER.

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED OUR AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK
FOR SEVERE WEATHER FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. WHILE THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY WILL BE FAIRLY SCATTERED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, ANY
STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS OR PERHAPS A
BRIEF TORNADO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AS THE DAY
CONTINUES ON WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS MIGHT APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS
ON WEDNESDAY. NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED IN THE REST
OF THE OUTLOOK PERIOD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE. DAILY AND STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION
REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED.

OHARA

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 27, 4:54 PM EST, 2 hours 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
554 PM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

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

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      7 NE JIM THORPE         40.94N 75.64W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            113 4-H CAMPERS WERE EVACUATED IN HICKORY RUN STATE PARK
            DUE TO FLOODING.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 NW ALLENTOWN          40.63N 75.52W
06/27/2006                   LEHIGH             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WATER STREET FLOODED IN WHITE HALL TOWNSHIP.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      JIM THORPE              40.87N 75.74W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERE FLOODING IN JIM THORPE.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      10 NE JIM THORPE        40.97N 75.60W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            BRIDGE DAMAGE REPORTED ON ROUTE 534 IN KIDDER TOWNSHIP.
            FLOODED ROADS REPORTED AROUND KIDDER TOWNSHIP.

0524 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 NE JIM THORPE         40.92N 75.67W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODED ROADS REPORTED IN PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP.

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HAMBURG                 40.56N 75.98W
06/27/2006                   BERKS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HOMES ARE FLOODED ON THE FIRST FLOOR IN TILDEN TOWNSHIP.

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      READING                 40.34N 75.93W
06/27/2006                   BERKS              PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING REPORTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SIXTH AND SPRING
            STREETS AT THE SPRING STREET SUBWAY.

&&

MEOLA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 114 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flood, Chester

When: June 27, 7:11 PM EST to June 29, 9:08 PM EST
Where: Chester County, Countywide
Property damage: $6.0 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.973, -75.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Chester

When: June 28, 2:19 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where: Chester County, Countywide
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 39.973, -75.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.
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

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Pennsylvania, June 2006

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: 5518456, 5518455.