Howard County Residents Warned To Move To Higher Ground During Storms

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A flash flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for portions of Howard County that includes Ellicott City and Columbia. People are advised to move to higher ground and avoid walking or driving through flood waters.

The warning lasts until midnight.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for parts of Maryland until 6 a.m. Thursday with rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour possible in some areas. Excessive runoff may result in the flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, the NWS said in an alert.

In 2018, flood waters inundated the Main Street district, leaving one dead. Nearly 8 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours in Ellicott City. It was the second fatal flood in as many years for Ellicott City. Two people died, 150 people were rescued and 170 inoperable vehicles were towed from the floodwaters on July 30, 2016, when officials said 6.36 inches of rain were recorded.

Read more: MD Weather: Flood Watch Issued With Heavy Rains Forecast