A sprawling October rainstorm that stretched from Delaware to Missouri blew into the Washington region on Friday, bringing the worst coastal flooding experienced in years to the area.
Old Town Alexandria recorded its highest tide since Hurricane Isabel hit the area in 2003, and its third highest tide on record. The high tides and coastal flooding resulted from winds from the southeast pushing water up the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River.
In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) declared a state of emergency along the shores of the Chesapeake, the Potomac and the coast. It covers Baltimore City along with Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Prince George’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties.
The rainstorm “has the potential to be much more damaging,” Hogan said. “We are taking this action to bring all necessary state resources to bear, and assist local jurisdictions in their response efforts.”
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Wind and flood warnings were posted by the National Weather Service, and gale warnings were up for the Bay. Winds gusted to 30 to 40 miles per hour throughout the area and around 50 miles per hour near the Bay and Atlantic Coast. The combination of wind and rain caused many of the day’s problems. Under gloomy skies, power outrages were reported across the area, as downpours fell, creating curbside rivers.
Pepco said it had about 1,000 customers in the District and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties out of power around 1:30 p.m. The number had dropped to around 400 by 3:30 p.m. Dominion Energy had about 5,100 customers without power across the areas of Falls Church, Baileys Crossroads, Arlington and Vienna. The number had dropped to about 900 by 3:30 p.m. Baltimore Gas & Electric reported 4,000 customers without power at 3:30 p.m., mostly in the Baltimore area.
Three public school systems in Maryland — Baltimore, Charles and Anne Arundel counties — closed for the day due to the severe weather. Prince George’s and St. Mary’s County schools closed early.
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In Northwest Washington, one tree fell on a house, and another fell across some lanes of Military Road around16th Street, blocking traffic. Another fallen tree blocked George Washington Parkway near Mount Vernon. The parkway was reportedly flooded out in that area. In Alexandria, officials said streets across the city were closed due to high waters.
A man was spotted traveling by kayak on flooded Dock Street in Annapolis, where water was up to the bottom of the door sills. White caps were seen on Spa Creek there. Throughout low lying areas, residents piled sandbags in hopes of keeping the water out of homes and businesses.
There was also flooding on the Tidal Basin in Washington, and along the Washington Channel in southwest. At 3:45 p.m. the water in the Potomac River at Georgetown reached more than 8 feet, two feet over flood stage. Motorists across the area were advised to use caution, allow extra time and to turn their vehicles around if they see flooded areas.
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The Capital Weather Gang forecast rain for much of the day, along with high winds. At least one to two inches of rain fell across the region, and a little more was possible. The major storm system spread as far north as Detroit, west to St. Louis, and south to Nashville.
Flooding already was underway Friday afternoon in Piney Point, Coltons Point and on St. George Island, Md., along the lower Potomac in St. Mary’s County. The highest water levels and the most severe coastal flooding was expected late Friday night into Saturday morning. But water levels were expected to gradually recede over the weekend.
It was the latest in series of potent storm systems that have battered the East Coast. Last month, a teenager died in a flooded Rockville apartment building, and a tornado touched down in the Annapolis area as the remains of Hurricane Ida hit the region with bad weather.
Occurrences of unusually high water levels have risen in the Mid-Atlantic region due to sea-level rise associated with climate change. Between 2000 and 2015, the incidence of high-tide flooding doubled from an average of three days per year to six, said a 2018 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Such days are projected to proliferate in coming decades as the climate continues to warm.
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