As we crossed the mighty Susquehanna River on our return to Virginia from Lancaster County, little did we know the light rain pelting the car would turn into a horrific situation for the mid-Atlantic region.
FOUR SIMULATANEOUS TROPICAL SYTEMS – ATLANTIC BASIN
Although the egress route of most mid-Atlantic weather runs north and east, a high pressure system in Canada in the north and Hurricane Katia in the Atlantic to the east impeded Tropical Storm Lee’s progress.
So, Lee sat on top of the mid-Atlantic, causing an upper level trough to spawn Hurricane Nate in the Gulf of Mexico in the southwest.
Meanwhile, of its own accord, Hurricane Maria began forming to the southeast in the Atlantic.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 – TROPICAL STORM LEE AFTER OUR VACATION
At our Virginia house we received 7-10″ of rain.
Further east of us in Fairfax Country seven inches of rain in three hours deluged Fort Belvoir, with Fairfax County reporting $10 million of damage to roads and bridges.
Meanwhile 13″ of rain deluged central Pennsylvania, swelling the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, even in Lycoming County, my beloved childhood playground.
LYCOMING COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA FLOODING SPAWNS MEMORIES
On our recent trip to Lancaster County, I reminisced happy memories of my mom and her family from Lycoming County to the north, which share the Susquehanna River, scenery, and food.
Throughout my youth my brother and I waded and swam with our cousin in Pine Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna, where local lore promises that once you wet your feet in Pine Creek you wish yourself back.
When I noticed on one vacation the annual wet your fanny in the Susquehanny, I determined to one day participate.
Videos sent to us from family members in the area of the swollen rivers, destroyed bridges, and flooded towns saddened me.
RESPITE BETWEEN STORMS
Looking back I’m amazed we had such great weather on our five day Pennsylvania trip to Brandywine Battlefield, Valley Forge, Philadelphia, and Lancaster County, sandwiched between Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Lee.
In that span of three weeks, Hurricane Ida deluged the mid-Atlantic on week 1, we vacationed on week 2, then Tropical Storm wrecked havoc on week 3.
But that might have something to do with all the tropical activity being in the right place at the right time, allowing a high pressure over us, this junior meteorlogist Thomas Jefferson weather nerd ponders…
AUGUST 28, 2011 – HURRICANE IDA BEFORE OUR VACATION
A week before we drove across the Susquehanna River into Lancaster County, Hurricane Ida flooded the massiveriver, and dumped over 5-7 inches of rain on Philadelphia!
Since August already was a wet month apart from Irene, Philadelphia broke a record, accumulating over 19″ of rain for the entire month!
Now wonder all the scenery was lush!
btw it’s now thought that Hurricane Ida also influenced an unusually excessive amount of aftershocks when it arrived in Virginia a few days our earthquake.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 FLOODING RIVULETS IN OUR BACKYARD
The day we recrossed the Susquehanna from Lancaster County into York to return to Virginia, Tropical Storm Lee pattered rain drops on our windshield.
After 7-10 inches of rain fell in our neighborhood, the kids and I took a walk after a huge deluge.
Hearing loud gurling from within the trees, we peeked through the leaves and saw a massive amount of water roaring down the hill.
Adventurously, we followed the water…
Taking another walk the next day, began our jaunt at the main entry where the rapids begin.
Walking later in the evening than the day before, we followed the nooks and crannies and valleys of our neighborhood to Broad Run, which is deeper and more broad than usual.
Initially when we moved here, I was concerned by the run below the house. Would it ever flood?
Even though it does, the flood management system throughout our massive neighborhood proved itself while under the test of Tropical Storm Lee.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1911 – CONTINUED MONSOON UPDATE
Although Tropical Storm Lee officially dissipated by Sept 11, several rainy days interspersed the remainder of the month.
Even our next trip to Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg was wet, so we creatively walked between rain storms and raindrops to enjoy programming.
Despite rain during the Constitution Day concert in Merchant Square, everyone happily showed up with umbrellas while the show carried on!
The major concern were the drums, since their coverings mustn’t get wet, so the drummers gauged dream beats with an eye on rain drops, covering them from rain as needed.
MONSOON WEATHER BEGETS GINORMOUS FUNGI GALORE
Returning home, we discovered another newness on our latest walk through our lovely hilly neighborhood in the foothills of the Blue Ridge.
All the monsoon moisture of Ida, Lee, and every rain drop in between beckoned huge, colorful, interesting fungi to pop up from nowhere!
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
RESOURCES
Hurricane Irene history and timeline with pictures and videos
Tropical Storm Lee history and timeline with pictures and videos
