USGS - science for a changing world

MD-DE-DC Water Science Center

Home >> Water Data >> Flood Watch >> Special Report: Hurricane Isabel

Rains Four Days After Isabel Later Cause Some Flooding and Impact on Rivers entering Chesapeake Bay

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

Contact:
Wendy McPherson (wsmcpher@usgs.gov)
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
8987 Yellow Brick Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21237
Phone: (410) 238-4255
Fax: (410) 238-4210

Updated: September 25, 2003

Several inches of rain during September 22-23 resulted in some additional flooding in Maryland and DC areas and an additional increase in river flow into the Chesapeake Bay. According the U.S. Geological Survey, the Susquehanna River, the largest river entering the Chesapeake Bay, had a peak flow of 139,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on the evening of September 23, which is higher than the maximum discharge reached during Isabel (72,200 cfs).

The peak discharge observed at the Conowingo Dam was far below the rate of 400,000 cfs needed for large amounts of sediment to be scoured out of the reservoir and be delivered into the Bay. The peak stage reached was more than 9 feet below flood stage, so significant riverine flooding was not anticipated at downstream communities, although substantial tidal surge flooding and damage was experienced during Hurricane Isabel in Havre de Grace, Maryland.

While Isabel did not greatly impact the Susquehanna River, the rainfall resulted in flooding of the streams and rivers in the Potomac basin. Streamflow from Isabel exceeded flood stage by 7.1 feet on the Potomac River at Point of Rocks, but paled in comparison to historical floods such as from Hurricanes Fran in 1996 (20.3 ft above flood stage) and Agnes in 1972 (21.4 ft above flood stage). Streamflow at the Potomac River near Washington DC reached just above flood stage. Streamflow increases further east towards Baltimore were more moderate, generally similar to what might be experienced following a summer thunderstorm.

Unfortunately, rainfall of similar or greater intensity fell just 4 days later on September 22 and 23, with soils already saturated and many stormwater control ponds nearly full, and some areas reported rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches. Flows in many streams from central Maryland to northern Delaware were two to three times those observed following Isabel. In some urban streams, flows were as much as 10 times those from Isabel, and flows were also about 10 times greater in the Monocacy River near Frederick, where the river rose to 4.7 ft above flood stage.

The U.S. Geological Survey provides real-time streamflow data for 80 stations in Maryland to emergency managers and to the general public. During flooding, field measurements are made of stream discharge to calibrate long-term records for safe design of dams, culverts, and bridges, and for water-resources management by other agencies. Water-quality samples are also collected at selected streams during floods to determine the impacts on water bodies such as the Chesapeake Bay.

Press releases concerning Hurricane Isabel:

Important flood-related links

Selected Items of Interest

*Hurricane Isabel, September 2003 (includes flooding impacts)
*Hurricane Floyd, September 1999
Coastal storms of January 27-29 and February 4-6, 1998 (from Delaware Geological Survey)
Flooding from Hurricane Fran, September 1996
Snowmelt Floods of January 1996
*Tropical Storm Agnes, June 1972 (from Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center)
Weather Event and Data Archives
Information on extreme weather events can be obtained from the National Climatic Data Center.

Other Flood Information

The following background information is available on floods in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.:

National Water Summary 1988-89--Floods and Droughts

Real-Time Data

More Water Data

StreamStats

Seminars

Featured Projects

Recent Publications

SIR 2007 5165 Cover PageFS 2009-3032

SIR 2007 5165 Cover PageFS 2009-3009

SIR 2007 5165 Cover PageFS 2007-3085

SIR 2007 5165 Cover PageSIR 2008-5190

SIR 2007 5165 Cover PageSIR 2008-5144

SIR 2007 5165 Cover PageFS 2008-3068

Job Opportunities

Contact Us

USGS MD-DE-DC Water Science Center
5522 Research Park Drive
Baltimore, MD 21228
Tel: 443.498.5500 || Fax: 443.498.5510

USGS in Your State

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

There is a USGS Water Science Center office in each State.

Washington Oregon California Idaho Nevada Montana Wyoming Utah Colorado Arizona New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Wisconsin Illinois Mississippi Michigan Indiana Ohio Kentucky Tennessee Alabama Pennsylvania West Virginia Georgia Florida Caribbean Alaska Hawaii New York Vermont New Hampshire Maine Massachusettes South Carolina North Carolina Rhode Island Virginia Connecticut New Jersey Maryland-Delaware-D.C.

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://md.water.usgs.gov/floods/isabel.html
Page Contact Information: webmaster@md.water.usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, December 09, 2008