Flash Flood — Essex, Massachusetts

2001-03-22 to 2001-03-28 · near Methuen, Essex, Massachusetts

Wider weather episode

Widespread flooding occurred on rivers and streams in eastern Massachusetts as a result of melting snow and heavy rainfall. The most severe flooding occurred in the Merrimack Valley, where flood damage was estimated at ten million dollars. Federal assistance was made available for residents of Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth Counties.Record flooding occurred on the Aberjona River in Winchester, where the crest of 16.80 feet exceeded the crest of 16.78 feet which occurred on October 21, 1996. This was the worst flooding to strike the Merrimack Valley since the October, 1996 flood and was comparable in magnitude. In the Charles and Neponset basins, flooding was similar to the June, 1998 flood, though the severity of urban flooding was much less.The Nashua River at East Pepperell crested at 9.5 feet at 545 pm on the 24th (flood stage is 8 feet). The Concord River at Lowell crested at 8.94 feet at 115 am on the 26th (flood stage is 8 feet). The Assabet River at Maynard crested at 6.41 feet at 11am on the 23rd (flood stage is 5 feet). The Shawsheen River at Wilmington crested at 9.87 feet at 10 am on the 23rd (flood stage is 7 feet). The Sudbury River at Saxonville crested at 12.61 feet at 715 am on the 23rd (flood stage is 10 feet). The Blackstone River at Northbridge crested at 9.22 feet at 530 pm on the 22nd (flood stage is 9 feet). The Charles River at Dover crested at 6.97 feet at 11 pm on the 25th (flood stage is 5 feet). The Neponset River at Norwood crested at an estimated 10.2 feet at 11 pm on the 22nd (flood stage is 9 feet).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5238008. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.