Flash Flood — Lackawanna, Pennsylvania

2006-06-27 to 2006-06-28 · near Countywide, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Tropical moisture streamed northward into northeast Pennsylvania ahead of a frontal system which slowly moved westward into the eastern Great Lakes by Tuesday morning the 27th. This brought 2 to 5 inches of rain to Lackawanna County and began significant flash flooding by Tuesday morning. Later on Tuesday another more substantial area of heavy rain moved into Lackawanna County as the front moved back east and combined with a low pressure system moving up the eastern seaboard. This additional rainfall caused massive flash flooding from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. Total rainfall in Lackawanna County ranged from 7 to 15 inches. This extreme rainfall sent streams and creeks overflowing their banks in Moscow and Goldboro by mid-morning Tuesday. By late morning, widespread flash flooding was occurring across many parts of the county. The flooding damaged 200 homes, destroying 2. There were at least 18 businesses damaged. Over 500 were evacuated with 20 people being rescued from the raging flood waters. There were 22 roads damaged with 2 roads destroyed. During the height of the flash flood, there were 30 roads closed, including Interstate 81 from exit 199 in northern Lackawanna County north to the New York border. There were no deaths, but damages are estimated to be at least 50 million dollars.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5516311. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.