Minor Flooding Forecast On Connecticut River

The Connecticut River rose above flood stage in parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts today and is expected to continue to rise Thursday. But the forecast is for minor flooding. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.

Warmer temperatures this week melted snow in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, increasing the amount of water flowing down the Connecticut River. Rainfall has also added to water levels. There are flood warnings in Thompsonville, Hartford and Middletown. Mathew Belk from the National Weather Service says he expects the river won’t recede until the end of the week.

“Particularly with a river like the Connecticut River the flooding could actually last for days. The more steeply sloped a river is the faster the water drains away. The Connecticut River, particularly in the state of Connecticut, is reasonably flat. You also have to deal with the river where it drains, which is Long Island Sound. If the water level in Long Island Sound is higher than the water level in the river, the river will take time to drain.”

The flooding is considered minor, meaning the river is overflowing its banks in places, briefly closing a few roads. It might also affect some homes and businesses.

For WNPR I’m Nancy Cohen.