Heavy rain in the Northeastern United States in mid-July brought flooding and storm impacts to several states, including New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Vermont received two months’ worth of rain – over nine inches – in just a few days. Water levels were higher than seen in 2011’s Hurricane Irene, which devastated the state.
The flooding destroyed homes and businesses, washed away cars, roads and bridges, and impacted critical infrastructure. At one point, a major dam was just inches away from capacity. The capital city of Montpelier’s downtown was underwater due to flooding from the Winooski River.
The National Weather Service said the Hudson Valley received between five and eight inches of rain. Officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, urged residents to exercise caution when driving since only two feet of water is enough to sweep a vehicle away.
The flooding disrupted MTA and Amtrak services and resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. This flooding is considered a “1000-year event.”
Flash flooding on July 15 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, left six people dead and a 9-month-old boy missing. His mother and 2-year-old sister were also killed. The area got 6.5 to 7 inches of rain in under an hour.
The Northeast is not the only area hit by extreme flooding. On July 19, heavy flooding hit Mayfield, Kentucky (home to the massive December 2021 tornadoes).
North of the border, the provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia both experienced extreme storms bringing rain and wind. Parts of Quebec saw 4-5 inches of rainfall quickly, including the city of Joliette, which received 2.5 inches in one hour. The province was also hit by heavy storms and tornadoes on July 13.
Areas of Nova Scotia received three months of rain overnight in less than 24 hours (July 21 to July 22), reaching as much as 10 inches in some places. This is the heaviest rain in more than 50 years to hit the province. Many of these communities were also affected by the wildfires in May. At least six bridges were destroyed and 19 damaged, along with 50 roads. Four people, including two children, are still missing. Numerous homes were damaged.
Metro Atlanta also flooded on July 21.
(Photo: Vermont National Guard flies over Montpelier, Vermont, July 11, 2023. This unit’s mission was to survey heavy rain damage and report if there were stranded people that needed rescuing. Credit: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Davis)
Flooding is the most common and costly disaster, resulting in economic and infrastructure destruction and death. Water-related hazards continue to increase in frequency, with 1000-year events becoming much more common.
A Dartmouth study released in May 2023 found that: “With a warmer climate creating more humid conditions in the Northeast, extreme precipitation events—defined as at least 1.5 inches of heavy rainfall or melted snowfall in a day—are projected to increase in the Northeast by 52% by the end of the century.”
NASA scientists echo the Dartmouth study, with their research pointing to the size and intensity of flooding increasing as the planet warms. The warmer the weather, the more intense the rainfall.
We know flood risks are disproportionately higher for vulnerable and marginalized populations. Yet, our research proves that funding for flooding recovery is often the most difficult to secure for affected communities.
Floods are often a slow and sometimes predictable disaster. Communities often know they will be hit ahead of time, especially those on major rivers that have flooded farther upstream. However, significant rainfall – especially rain bands over a specific area – can upset even the best-laid plans. This unexpected rain can lead to flash flooding, especially as rivers exceed their peak capacity.
That’s what happened across the Northeast, and that’s what will continue to occur more frequently due to climate change. This isn’t just a Northeast or even U.S. problem. Flooding, as bad as what was experienced in the U.S. in July, also occurred internationally at the same time in countries as disparate as Japan, India and Russia.
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