Region recovering from heavy rain
Apr. 4—CUMBERLAND — All roads in Allegany County were reported open late Thursday morning after several inches of rain hit the tri-state and caused isolated flooding in areas along Wills Creek, Evitts Creek and the lowland area of the North Branch Potomac River.
At least three inches of rain since Sunday apparently factored in knocking down a utility pole and electric lines on National Highway in the Narrows early Wednesday afternoon — causing shutdown of the roadway until 9 p.m., according to Roger Bennett, deputy director of the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services.
No injuries were reported by the DES during heavy rain that fell throughout the day Wednesday, causing hazardous travel at times along Interstate 68.
Smouses Mill Road in the Bedford Road area was closed for a time along with Country Club Road from Golf Creek Drive to Christie Road, officials said
The city of Cumberland received 3.63 inches of rain since Sunday night, exceeding the average April rainfall total of 3.41 inches, according to Tim Thomas, observer for the National Weather Service in Cumberland.
"There were some scary moments for a lot of people at times with all this rain, but overall we fared pretty well," said Thomas, recalling historic flooding. "Wills Creek crested at 10.63 feet late Wednesday evening and the Potomac River at Wiley Ford crested near 17 feet," said Thomas.
During the January 1996 flood, the Potomac River rose to 25.56 feet at the Wiley Ford bridge, according to Thomas' records.
"The difference this time was we didn't see the big snow pack back in the mountains that played a big part in the 1996 flooding," said Thomas, who is also a retired Allegany County 911 dispatcher and first responder with the LaVale Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Wills Creek measured just over 7 feet at about 9 a.m. Thursday and the Potomac River at Wiley Ford was running at 11.71 feet at that hour, Thomas said.
Thomas said clearing conditions were not expected until Sunday when sunny skies were predicted with temperatures into the 60s.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect for Garrett County where 2 to 5 inches of snow were expected until Friday at midnight.
In Allegany County, rain and snow showers, breezy conditions and a high of 47 were expected Friday and partly sunny skies are forecasted for Saturday with gusting winds up to 25 mph, according to the weather service.
Thomas said rainfall totaled 1.38 inches by Tuesday morning, 1.41 inches Wednesday morning, and 0.34 of an inch by daylight Thursday.
