Flood — Bucks, Pennsylvania

1996-01-28 · Bucks, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain (Storm totals of between one inch and one inch and a half) fell over saturated soil for the second weekend in a row and caused flooding of the larger streams and rivers across the Southern Poconos and Southeast Pennsylvania. Fortunately the flooding was not as severe as the previous week. But, a 72-year-old woman drowned on River Road in Upper Makefield Township (Bucks County) at 930 a.m. on the 28th. She apparently drove around three roadblocks and became stuck in the deep flood waters of the Delaware River. Her body was found near the Prickly Pear Restaurant.Along the Lehigh River, precautionary evacuations occurred in Walnutport, Freemansburg and Easton and on Adams Island. The flood waters tore away a 35 to 45 foot chunk of the Lehigh Canal Towpath in Allentown. In Northampton County, the Bushkill Creek flooded parts of downtown Easton. Pennsylvania State Route 611 was closed along the Delaware River because of flooding. Flooding along the Delaware River also forced other road closures in Harmony Township. In Berks County, flooding along the Schuylkill River forced roadway closures in Tilden and Perry Townships. In Chester County, stream flooding caused many road closures including Pennsylvania State Route 100. In Montgomery County, two elderly Pottstown women were rescued from the flooded Industrial Highway. Other water rescues occurred, mainly from people trying to drive on barricaded roads. Two bridges were closed because of structural damage, the Mather Road Bridge over the Wissahickon Creek in Whitpain Township and the Cedar Hill Road Bridge over Park Creek in Horsham Township. A park was badly damaged by flood waters in Pottstown. In Bucks County, Delaware River flooding forced the closure of River Road/Pennsylvania State Route 32 in Tinicum and Bridgeton Townships and Yardley. Several other road closures occurred in Yardley.In Carbon County, the Lehigh River at Lehighton crested at 12.57 feet at 9 p.m. on the 27th. Flood stage is 10 feet. In Northampton and Lehigh Counties, the river crested at 11.52 feet in Walnutport (Flood stage is 8 feet.) at 730 p.m. on the 27th and just below the 16 foot flood stage in Bethlehem. The Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem crested at 6.7 feet. In Lehigh County, the Jordan Creek in Allentown crested at 8.6 feet at 130 a.m. on the 28th. Flood stage is 7 feet. Along the Delaware River, at Phillipsburg it crested at 22.38 feet at noon on the 28th. Flood stage is 22 feet. In Riegelsville, the river crested at 22.28 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet. Along the Schuylkill River, in Berne (Berks County) it crested at 13.91 feet at 930 p.m. on the 27th. Flood stage is 12 feet. It crested at 15.02 feet in Reading at 3 a.m. on the 28th. Flood stage is 13 feet. In Pottstown, it crested at 14.15 feet. Flood stage is also 13 feet. In Philadelphia, it crested at 11.76 feet. Flood stage is 11 feet. The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek at Downingtown crested at 9.05 feet at 6 p.m. on the 27th. Flood stage is 7 feet. Along the main stem of the Brandywine Creek in Chadds Ford, it crested at 9.79 feet at 1 a.m. on the 28th. Flood stage is 9 feet.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5543443. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.