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August 2014 United States floods

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August 2014 United States floods
The system responsible for the New York floods
CauseHeavy rains
Meteorological history
DurationAugust 11–13, 2014
Flood
Maximum rainfall13.57 in (345 mm) Islip, New York
Overall effects
Fatalities3
Injuries1
Damage$1.837 billion
Areas affectedMid-Atlantic

In a three-day period on August 11–13, 2014, flooding occurred across Michigan, New York, particularly Long Island, and portions of Maryland. Numerous water rescues and evacuations occurred across expressways and residential areas, and caused three fatalities and one injury. Additionally, several rainfall records were broken across the three primarily affected states, and a flash flood emergency was issued for portions of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area.

Meteorological synopsis

A slow-moving low-pressure area moved across the eastern United States, bringing flooding to southeastern Michigan which caused two deaths.[1] The upper-level trough then pulled moisture plume from the Atlantic Ocean.[1][2] The trough, combined with the moisture plume, then stalled over northern portions of the Mid-Atlantic, bringing high rainfall rates.[3]

Impact and aftermath

Michigan

Daily rainfall records were broken in Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw, with Detroit recording its second-heaviest rainfall event on August 11, where 4.57 inches (116 mm) of rain fell at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.[4][5][6] Vehicles were submerged on portions of Interstate 696 and Interstate 75.[6] In suburban portions of Detroit, peak rainfall amounts of 6.25 inches (159 mm) were recorded.[7] The American Automobile Association received over 700 calls for assistance in 12 hours, and heavy rainfall caused river levels to rise.[8] At Baker College near Allen Park, floods stranded 60 students and forced a portion of Interstate 94 to close.[9] Detroit Zoo closed as a result of flood damage there.[8] 32,000 power outages occurred during the flood event, and flood damage totaled $1.8 billion.[6][10]

New York

Flooding at a parking garage at Ronkonkoma station

On the Southern State Parkway, 47 vehicles were inundated by floodwaters, trapping 52 people. The Southern State Parkway and Long Island Expressway were closed, and the Long Island Rail Road experienced significant delays.[11] Flights were delayed at Macarthur Airport.[12] 13.57 inches (345 mm) fell in Islip, setting a new 24-hour rainfall record for New York.[13][14] Portions of Interstate 495, New York State Route 27 and New York State Route 135 closed.[15][16][17] A baseball game at Yankee Stadium between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles was postponed.[18] One fatality and one injury occurred after a weather-related crash on the Long Island Expressway.[19] A state of emergency was declared for Suffolk County, and for the town of Brookhaven,[3] and Islip mayor Thomas Croci signed a state of emergency declaration.[12] Flood damage in the state totaled $35.2 million.[20]

Maryland

Further south, flash flood emergencies were issued in the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area, with the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and parts of the Baltimore Beltway closed due to flooding.[21] Portions of Interstate 295 closed between the Baltimore Beltway and Westport, Maryland.[21] Baltimore/Washington International Airport received 6.3 inches (160 mm) of rain, which, in the Baltimore, Maryland area, was the second-wettest day on record.[21]

Elsewhere

In Millville, New Jersey, basements were flooded and some collapsed.[22] Near Branford, Connecticut, vehicles were submerged by floodwaters on Interstate 95.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b "Unprecedented all time record rain swamps Long Island". MPR News. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  2. ^ "Historic Long Island Flash Flooding - August 12-13, 2014". NWS Upton, NY. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "'Storm Of Historic Proportions' Dumps 13 Inches Of Rain In Some Spots Of LI - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  4. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "August 11, 2014 Historic Rainfall". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  5. ^ Torregrossa, Mark (2014-08-13). "Detroit's historic rain: Here is the cause". mlive. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  6. ^ a b c "Heavy rain wreaks havoc in Detroit". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  7. ^ "Michigan: Two Die in Record Flooding (Published 2014)". New York Times. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  8. ^ a b "Record Rain and Flash Floods Cause Chaos on Detroit Highways – FloodList". floodlist.com. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  9. ^ "Downriver communities cleaning up after severe flooding". The News Herald. 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  10. ^ "Storm Events Database - Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information | Search Results for All Counties in Michigan". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  11. ^ "Rain on Long Island Breaks a Record, Floods Highways and Sets Cars Afloat (Published 2014)". 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  12. ^ a b "Record-setting rainfall drenches Long Island, flooding roads". ABC7 New York. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  13. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Historic Long Island Flash Flooding - August 12-13, 2014". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  14. ^ "Precipitation Record for New York State!". www.nrcc.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  15. ^ Bashan, Yoni (August 13, 2014). "Record-Breaking Rain Floods Long Island, New York Region – WSJ". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  16. ^ Kearney, Laila (August 14, 2014). "New York suburbs hit by flash floods after record rainfall". Reuters. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  17. ^ "Strong Storms Shatter Records on Long Island, Cars Nearly Submerged". NBC News. August 13, 2014. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  18. ^ "Yanks-O's rained out". ESPN.com. 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  19. ^ "Record-Setting Storm Dumps 13 Inches of Rain on Long Island Town, Floods Roads, Strands Drivers". NBC New York. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  20. ^ "Storm Events Database - Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information | Search Results for All Counties in New York". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  21. ^ a b c "Baltimore-Washington D.C. Area Flooded By Record Rainfall". The Weather Channel. August 13, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  22. ^ "One dead, several drivers rescued from stranded cars on flooded Long Island roads after record-setting rainstorm". NY Daily News. August 13, 2014. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  23. ^ "Wet Wednesday: Flooding rain swamps Northeast". Usatoday.com. August 13, 2014. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
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