Flash Flood and Flood in Pennsylvania, June 28 to 29, 2006

Name: Flash Flood and Flood in Pennsylvania, June 28 to 29, 2006
Start: 2006-06-28T02:14
End: 2006-06-29T13:50
Location: Pennsylvania

June 28 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: $1.0 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 the Delaware and Schuylkill River Basins culminated with flooding along the Schuylkill River from the 28th through the 29th. 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 flash flooding occurred on the smaller streams and exacerbated the ongoing flooding on the larger rivers. Event totals in Philadelphia averaged three to four inches.Flooding in Philadelphia was concentrated along the Schuylkill River and affected the city's Manayunk and East Falls sections the most. During the heavy rain itself, the eastbound Schuylkill Expressway was closed at South Street and sections of Interstate 95 were closed at Penn's Landing. In Manayunk, about 70 families were evacuated as rowhouses flooded on Main Street. Many businesses were also flooded. About thirty-five students and supervisors were evacuated from the Arthur Ashe Training Center. Most businesses reopened on the 29th and all streets were reopened on the 30th. Flooding was described as the worst since Floyd in September of 1999. In the East Falls section sandbagging was used to prevent the spread of flood waters on Kelly Drive and Midvale Avenue. Kelly Drive was closed as were the following roads near the Schuylkill: Martin Luther King Drive, Lincoln Drive and West River Road. Farther downstream, the Schuylkill River flooded Boathouse Row. The Independence Day regatta was cancelled because of debris, high water and fast currents on the Schuylkill River. The Schuylkill River in Philadelphia was above its 11 foot flood stage from 805 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 250 p.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 12.49 feet at 330 p.m. EDT on the 28th. The Wissahickon Creek at its mouth with the Schuylkill River was above its 5 foot flood stage from 444 a.m. EDT through 538 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 8.00 feet at 1245 p.m. EDT. The Frankford Creek at Castor Avenue flooded twice above its 7 foot flood on the 28th. First briefly from 314 a.m. EDT through 319 a.m. EDT. It crested at 7.06 feet at 315 a.m. EDT. The second time it was above its 7 foot flood stage from 418 a.m. EDT through 640 a.m. EDT. It crested at 10.25 feet at 530 a.m. EDT. The Pennypack Creek at the Rhawn Street Bridge was above its 7 foot flood stage from 510 a.m. EDT through 349 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 10.93 feet at 115 p.m. EDT. Actual storm rainfall totals included 3.68 inches at the Philadelphia International Airport and 2.81 inches at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. It was the fourth wettest June on record as 7.95 inches of rain fell at Philadelphia International Airport.

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, 10:08 PM EST, 4 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 27, 10:08 PM EST, 4 hours 6 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1108 PM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

.SHORT TERM /REST OF TONIGHT/...
HAVE MADE A QUICK UPDATE TO RESEMBLE CURRENT TRENDS. RIGHT NOW,
MOST OF NEW JERSEY AND PARTS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ARE NOT
SEEING MUCH RAINFALL, HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME SHOWERS DEVELOPING
AHEAD OF THE MAIN AREA OF RAIN IN CENTRAL/EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA,
MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA. THIS AREA OF RAINFALL SHOULD PROGRESS ITS
WAY SLOWLY AS THE NIGHT CONTINUES. THERE IS STILL A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH FOR OUR WHOLE CWA AND A NUMBER OF FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS AS
WELL AS FLOOD WARNINGS FOR NUMEROUS RIVERS AROUND THE AREA.
PLEASE REFER TO THESE STATEMENTS FOR ANY FURTHER UPDATES TO
WATCHES AND/OR WARNINGS.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
 /ISSUED 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... FOR PAZ069>071 UNTIL NOON WEDNESDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
NJ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NJZ001-007>010-012>027 UNTIL 8 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ... FOR NJZ016>019-021-023 UNTIL NOON WEDNESDAY.
DE... FOR DEZ001>003 UNTIL NOON WEDNESDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR DEZ001>004 UNTIL 8 AM WEDNESDAY.
MD...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FOR MDZ008-012-015-019-020 UNTIL 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.
&&

SHORT TERM...ROBERTSON

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 27, 9:51 AM EST, 16 hours 23 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, 10:19 PM EST, 3 hours 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1119 PM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

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

0930 PM     FLASH FLOOD      ALLENTOWN               40.60N 75.48W
06/27/2006                   LEHIGH             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS ROADS AND BASEMENTS FLOODED COUNTYWIDE.

0930 PM     FLASH FLOOD      BETHLEHEM               40.63N 75.37W
06/27/2006                   NORTHAMPTON        PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS ROADS AND BASEMENTS FLOODED COUNTYWIDE.

0930 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MOUNT POCONO            41.12N 75.36W
06/27/2006                   MONROE             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS ROADS AND BASEMENTS FLOODED COUNTYWIDE.

&&

ROBERTSON

Local storm report, Jun 27, 11:04 PM EST, 3 hours 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1204 AM EDT WED JUN 28 2006

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

1000 PM     FLASH FLOOD      JIM THORPE              40.87N 75.74W
06/27/2006                   CARBON             PA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS REPORTS OF STREAMS FLOODING, STREET FLOODING AND
            EVACUATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

&&

NIERENBERG

Special weather statement, Jun 27, 11:34 PM EST, 2 hours 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1234 AM EDT WED JUN 28 2006

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ016-017-021>025-281000-
NEW CASTLE-KENT DE-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-
QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-
CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...DOVER...GEORGETOWN...
REHOBOTH BEACH...ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE...EASTON...
DENTON...PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...MILLVILLE...HAMMONTON...
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...OCEAN CITY...ATLANTIC CITY
1234 AM EDT WED JUN 28 2006

...LOW PRESSURE MOVING UP THE CHESAPEAKE BAY EARLY THIS MORNING...

LOW PRESSURE MOVING UP THE CHESAPEAKE BAY EARLY THIS MORNING MAY
BRING A PERIOD OF WINDS GUSTING ABOVE 35 MPH, HEAVY RAIN AND EVEN
ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS TO
DELAWARE, THE NORTHERN MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE, AND FAR SOUTHERN
NEW JERSEY.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA THROUGH THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS, SPECIFICALLY UNTIL 800 AM EDT. A GALE WARNING IS
IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE DELAWARE BAY AND THE ATLANTIC COASTAL
WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO FENWICK ISLAND INTO THIS EVENING.

PLEASE REMAIN INDOORS DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR ANY
WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES THAT MAY BE ISSUED.

MPD

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 62 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flash Flood, Philadelphia

When: June 28, 2:14 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where: Philadelphia County, Countywide
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.008, -75.134 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Philadelphia

When: June 28, 6:00 AM EST to June 29, 1:50 PM EST
Where: Philadelphia County, Philadelphia
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.008, -75.134 (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.
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 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: 5518464, 5518465.