Pennsylvania Environment & Hazard Risk

SNOW SQUALL. A snow squall passed over I-81 in Schuylkill County shortly after 10:30am (EDT) on March 28, 2022, causing an 80 vehicle pileup at mile marker 116 on the northbound lanes that resulted in 6 fatalities, an additional 24 injuries, and closed the northbound lanes between mile markers 107 and 119 for more than 24 hours. State Route 901 was also closed.

Catastrophic flash flooding occurred in Upper Makefield Township, resulting in the loss of seven lives. A reliable rain gauge located within the township indicated that 4.64 inches of rain fell during the event which lasted less than 2 hours. Widespread roadway flooding occurred with many roads becoming impassable. Numerous water rescues took place in the township. The worst of the flooding occurred along Hough's Creek. The creek rose rapidly and the rushing water carried away many vehicles, most along Taylorsville Road which parallels the Delaware Canal. Eleven vehicles were reported to have been swept into the creek. Eight individual were rescued from their vehicle and two from the creek. Unfortunately, seven people perished either while trapped in their vehicle or while attempting to escape the flood waters.||The Taylorsville Road Bridge over Hough's Creek was structurally compromised. PA Route 532 between Stonebridge Crossing Road and Wrightstown Road was damaged severely by the raging flood waters from Hough's Creek.

Widespread flash flooding occurred in Philadelphia with many roadways closed. Most of the waterways in the city overflowed their banks, including the Schuylkill River, Cobbs Creek, Wissahickon Creek, Frankford Creek and Pennypack Creek. Many buildings were flooded, especially in the Manayunk section of the city.

Widespread flash flooding occurred in Chester County with many road closures and vehicles stranded. There was a flood related fatality in Downingtown. Numerous waterways in the county flooded, including the Schuylkill River, the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek, the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek, White Clay Creek, Red Clay Creek, French Creek and Valley Creek. There were many reports of water entering buildings and homes.

Widespread flash flooding occurred in Montgomery County with many road closures and vehicles stranded. Numerous water rescues took place. There were two flood related fatalities, one in Skippack and one in Bridgeport. Many buildings and homes were flooded. Most waterways in the county overflowed their banks, including the Schuylkill River, Perkiomen Creek and Wissahickon Creek.

Widespread flash flooding occurred in Philadelphia with many roadways closed. Most of the waterways in the city overflowed their banks, including the Schuylkill River, Cobbs Creek, Wissahickon Creek, Frankford Creek and Pennypack Creek. Many buildings were flooded, especially in the Manayunk section of the city.