Flash Flood — Providence, Rhode Island

2013-09-02 · near Waterman Four Corner, Providence, Rhode Island

Event narrative

Heavy rain over the same part of Rhode Island for the second day in a row resulted in widespread flash flooding across much of Kent County and Cranston. Information on flooding in Kent County can be found in a separate event entry for Kent County. In Cranston, a car became stuck in flood waters in a rotary, stranding a man on the roof of the car. A car flooded at the intersection of Wellington and Essex Streets resulted in a water rescue done by boat. The fire department rescued occupants of a car stuck in flood waters on Oaklawn Avenue. An area of Cranston Street including the 1500 block was flooded with one to two feet of water. Dean Estates apartment buildings were evacuated by boat by the fire department after flood waters inundated the basement/garden level apartments up to the ceilings. When firefighters arrived at the apartments, water was already four feet deep. One firefighter was injured when the first floor collapsed because of the basement flooding. About 60 people were evacuated from the complex. One lane of Budlong Road was damaged by flooding. Reservoir and Pontiac Avenues were flooded and impassable. Route 10 south at Interstate 95 was closed due to flooding.

Wider weather episode

A nearly stationary warm front draped across southern New England, coupled with a very moist atmosphere, resulted in showers and thunderstorms across the area for the third day in a row. Heavy rain fell within these showers and storms and flash flooding occurred, particularly over portions of Rhode Island.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.7887, -71.5574)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 469639. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.