WASHINGTON — Downpours across the region Thursday caused multiple roads to be closed and flooded. Montgomery County reported 300 service calls in and three hours, and more than 25 water rescues, while Prince George's County said they received 250 calls in four hours, with 134 being water-related.
Multiple water rescues occurred in Montgomery County as vehicles were stuck in high water from flash flooding. Though several roads were able to reopen following flooding, some remain closed overnight, including both directions of Route-29 between Lockwood Drive and Crestmoor Drive, which will remain closed through sunrise Friday morning.
The extensive flood waters are also effecting MARC train operations Friday morning, causing the Maryland Department of Transportation to cancel trains 401, 400, 415, 410, and 423 on the Penn Line, as well as Brunswick Line trains 890 and 874. The MTA says additional train cancellations are possible, and passengers should check service advisories throughout the morning before heading out the door.
In the Kensington area, Beach Drive was completely submerged near the Rock Creek Palisades apartments. A viewer reported that several cars were underwater and first responders closed the road. Rock Creek also overflowed its banks near Parkwood Drive and Puller Road.
Shortly after 3 p.m., NWS reported 2-3 feet of "swiftly moving waters" on Jackson Avenue in Takoma Park.
Due to the flash floods, Montgomery Parks closed the following parkways:
- Beach Drive
- Sligo Creek Parkway between Piney Branch and Maple Avenue
- Little Falls Parkway at MacArthur and Dorset Avenue
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue reported flooding at the intersection of Bradley Boulevard and Arlington Road just before 1:30 p.m. Drivers were asked to avoid the area and to seek alternative routes to avoid being trapped.
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue chief spokesperson Pete Piringer said on Twitter that vehicles had become trapped in the following locations across the county:
- Connecticut Avenue and Baltimore Street
- Glenwood Road and Irvington Avenue
- Bradley Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue
- Kensington Parkway and Beach Drive
- Little Falls Parkway near Fairfax Road
- Massachusetts Avenue and Little Falls Parkway
Evening commuters were left to deal with some of the worst flash flooding Prince George's County has ever seen. Route 50, was backed up for several hours after water rose three to four feet in a matter of minutes. Traffic was blocked in both directions for nearly four hours, as crews worked to rescue trapped drivers using inflatable rafts.
According to Jennifer Donelan, director of public information for the county's fire and EMS department (PGFD), the rescue teams received 250 calls for help-- 134 for water-related emergencies -- in about 4.5 hours. In a typical 24-hour period, they'll receive 430 calls. Donelan described the flooding as "historic" and "unprecedented," noting that fire crews spotted flooding in places that have stayed dry in the past.
Aspen Hill also saw multiple inches of rainfall:
In the District, cars were seen driving through Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest near the National Archives during the flash flooding.
Rock Creek Parkway under the Military Road Bridge was flooded out, looking more like a reservoir than a road.
Rhode Island Ave near 2nd Street was also submerged, with one neighbor describing it as some of the worst flash flooding he had seen in 12 years.
Northeast D.C. saw an incredible amount of rain take over roads at South Dakota Ave & Ingraham St (Credit: Erin Rubinstein)
One report of a water rescue happened in the 600 block of Rhode Island Ave in Northeast. Several vehicles submerged in an underpass beneath the railroad tracks. Firefighters were utilizing a banana boat to check submerged vehicles for any trapped passengers.
Earlier Thursday morning, heavy downpours and flooding caused some roads to close in St. Mary's County.
Newtown Neck Road in Leonardtown closed due to high water, Bayside Road had reports of high water, Maddox Road and Budds Creek Road near Chaptico closed and there was significant flooding also reported on Baptist Church Road in Mechanicsville Road.