Flash Flood Emergency For Parts Of CT As 10 Inches Of Rain Falls

CONNECTICUT — A historic amount of rain fell on parts of southern Connecticut Sunday, with more than 10 inches of rain falling on Southbury and Oxford.

It led to mudslides, water rescues and roads being washed out, especially in Southbury and Oxford.

A slow moving storm was unrelenting in the amount of rain it dropped on parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties. A "flash flood emergency" was issued for the area and a flood warning was also issued for Hartford and Litchfield counties too.

Throughout the afternoon on Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for central Fairfield County and northern parts of New Haven County.

In its statement, the National Weather Service issued all caps to make its point by writing: "This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Central Fairfield County toward Northern New Haven Counties. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!"

Gov. Ned Lamont said "We are coordinating with municipal officials to respond to today’s severe flooding and ensure public safety in the impacted regions. The Connecticut Emergency Operations Center will remain in enhanced monitoring status this evening. Stay alert and stay safe!"

A flash flood warning expires at 8:15 p.m. Sunday for central Fairfield and central New Haven counties, and a flash flood emergency expires at 8 p.m. for central parts of Fairfield County and northern New Haven County. A flood warning is in effect until 9:30 p.m. for Hartford County and a flood warning expires at 8 p.m. for Litchfield County.

On Sunday evening, the weather service said "emergency management reported water rescues and widespread flooding in Oxford, Seymour, and Cheshire."

The Town of Southbury has declared a local State of Emergency. Numerous roads in Southbury are compromised by flood conditions, making driving conditions dangerous, officials said. Please stay off roadways and do not drive through floodwaters, local officials added. (You can watch a dramatic water rescue here).

The town of Oxford said in a Facebook post that they are "strongly advising everyone to stay home. This is not the time to venture out for any reason the town is experiencing significant flooding, mudslides and other hazardous conditions."

"The Public Works Department along with the Fire Department and First Responders are actively working to mitigate the damage. However, many areas are severely impacted and several of police cars are underwater," Oxford officials said.

NBC CT chief meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "Over 10" of rain in about 12 hours around Oxford and Southbury is close to a 1-in 1000 year flood. (Read more at NBC CT).

More rain showers and storms are likely Sunday night and Monday before better weather arrives on Tuesday afternoon.

"Flash flooding is ongoing across portions of western Connecticut and forecast to continue through the evening. Rainfall estimates place 4-8″ of rain in parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties already. Landslides and road closures are ongoing with many roads flooded out," said WFSB 3 TV meteorologists. "Remember: do *not* drive through flooded roadways!

"Rain, heavy at times, will continue crawling northeast for the remainder of the evening. Flooding will become possible, perhaps even likely, across most of northern Connecticut as these downpours lift north. More development is expected overnight, though perhaps not as intense as what’s ongoing right now. Temperatures hold steady around 70 or so," according to WFSB 3 TV meteorologists.

"The slow moving system keeps us unsettled into tomorrow, and there is a First Alert for more downpours, storms, and the risk for localized flooding. Impacts to travel are expected; outdoor activities may suffer, too. It’s not an all day rain, more like scattered in the morning and then a lull before scattered rain and storms form in the afternoon and evening hours ahead of the cold front. Any thunderstorms that develop on Monday afternoon could become gusty, perhaps even approaching severe limits. The front passes through tomorrow night. On the backside, showers develop and move through early Tuesday morning before exiting. Becoming breezy, and comfier! Open window weather is on the way and we are forecasting lows in the 50s (40s possible across the hills) and highs in the mid to upper 70s under a mainly clear sky!" said WFSB 3 TV meteorologists. (Read/watch more at WFSB 3 TV).

The flash flooding conditions caused numerous road and lane closures, according to the state Department of Transportation:

Here are the latest updates:

SOUTHBURY - I-84 Eastbound Exit 15 OFFRAMP CLOSED because of Crash. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:57 pm.

SOUTHBURY - I-84 Westbound Exit 15 OFFRAMP CLOSED because of Crash. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 3:00 pm.

STAMFORD - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 6 and 3 (4.1 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 11:30 am.

WESTPORT - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 18 and 14 (4.1 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:25 pm.

NEW HAVEN - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 46 and 43 (1.7 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:38 pm.

MILFORD - Delays. I-95 Northbound is congested between Exits 39A and 42 (2.8 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 4:33 pm.

MILFORD - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 41 and 38 (2.0 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 6:00 pm.

ROCKY HILL - Rocky Hill Ferry CLOSED due to mechanical issues. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 7:25 am.

SOUTHBURY - Route 172 CLOSED at Spruce Brook Road because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 1:59 pm.

SOUTHBURY - RT 67 CLOSED from Route 172 to Main Street South because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:11 pm.

WOODBURY - RT 6 CLOSED @ WOODBURY PL BECAUSE OF FLOODING & WASHOUT Reported Sunday, August 18 at 4:28 pm.

BETHEL - Route 6 CLOSED between I-84 and Old Hawleyville Road because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 4:43 pm.

OXFORD - Route 34 CLOSED at Loughlin Road because of a washout. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 5:05 pm.

OXFORD - Route 188 CLOSED between Hulls Hill Rd & Edmonds Rd because of a mudslide. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 5:46 pm.

SOUTHBURY - Route 67 CLOSED at Route 188 because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 5:54 pm.

RIDGEFIELD - Route 7 CLOSED between New Road & Route 102 because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 6:04 pm.

MONROE - Route 34 CLOSED between Route 111 & Coppermine Road because of a washout. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 6:30 pm.

NEWTOWN - Route 6 CLOSED at Commerce Road because of a washout. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 6:45 pm.

WESTPORT - Delays. RT 15 Northbound is congested between Exits 42 and 46 (1.7 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:23 pm.

BRIDGEPORT - Delays. RT 15 Northbound is congested between Exits 51 and 53 (2.6 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:23 pm.

NORTH HAVEN - Delays. RT 15 Southbound is congested between Exits 57 and 48 (10.2 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 4:34 pm.

NORWALK - Delays. RT 15 Southbound is congested between Exits 40A and 35 (4.8 miles). Reported Sunday, August 18 at 5:25 pm.