Flash Flood — Clinton, Pennsylvania

2013-06-27 · near Beech Creek, Clinton, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Torrential rains of 4-6 inches in an hour caused significant flash flooding in the Beech Creek area. The flash flooding extended northeast along Route 150 into Mill Hall. The heavy rains and flood waters inundated the Beech Creek area, which resulted in a State of Emergency and Disaster Declaration due to numerous roads closed/damaged and covered in debris from flood waters. Many of the road closures and damage was confined in Beech Creek Township. More than 30 miles of roadway, including drainage culverts and bridges, were affected by the flooding.

One home in the Beech Creek area was destroyed and another sustained major damage. An additional 14 homes also sustained minor damage. Flood-related damages totaled over 10 million dollars.

An 86-year-old man was swept away by rising flood waters along Bald Eagle Creek while trying to rescue his ATV. His body was found two days later on Saturday, June 29, 2013 by kayakers.

The Bald Eagle Creek at Beech Creek Station surged nearly 8 feet in 4 hours and crested just below major flood stage. The creek officially crested at 13.75 feet which was the sixth highest crest on record.

Wider weather episode

A MCV and broader mid-level trough crossed the central Appalachians and triggered strong to severe thunderstorms from the central ridges into the Susquehanna River Valley during the afternoon and evening. Very high boundary layer moisture and humidity contributed to heavy rainfall/flash flooding and precipitation loading within consolidating convection. While the deep layer flow and shear were somewhat modest, ambient vertical vorticity just ahead of the MCV and low LCLs aided in the development of two weak, short-lived (EF1) tornadoes in Centre and Perry Counties. Deep moisture (PWAT) values around two inches along with relatively slow, south-to-north training cells and bands produced significant flash flooding, particularly in DuBois and Beech Creek which sustained extensive flood damages due localized 4-6+ inch rainfall amounts. Both towns were declared a State of Emergency. The Bald Eagle Creek at Beech Creek Station surged nearly 8 feet in 4 hours and crested just below major flood stage. The creek officially crested at 13.75 feet which was the sixth highest crest on record. An 86-year old man was swept away and killed by the rising flood waters in Beech Creek.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.0803, -77.5966)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 453003. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.