Flash Flood — Essex, New York

2011-04-27 · near Port Henry, Essex, New York

Event narrative

Runoff from heavy rain and snowmelt caused flash flooding in the town of Moriah NY. Numerous roads were closed due to mudslides, and the Broad Street Bridge in Moriah was undermined and collapsed at approximately 03:00 EST. Later in the day, Titus Road Bridge collapsed at approximately 18:00 EST. In the hamlet of Witherbee, homes were flooded with water flowing through them.

Wider weather episode

Snowmelt from an above normal snowpack and daytime high temperatures in the 50s and 60s on the 25th and 26th, combined with rainfall of a half to one inch early on the 26th to set the stage for a significant flood event across the region. Late in the day on the 26th into the early morning hours of the 27th thunderstorms repeatedly moved over central and northern Vermont, dumping over two inches of rain into already saturated soils and swollen rivers and streams. Flash flooding during the overnight hours late on the 26th quickly transitioned into river flooding by the morning of April 27.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.0500, -73.4500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 301863. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.