Flash floods block roads, delay flights across the I‑95 corridor from Washington to Philadelphia, U.S.

Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding disrupted ground and air travel along the I‑95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia on July 1, 2025. Heavy rainfall caused road closures and water rescues, while major airports experienced widespread delays and cancellations.

CRAZY! Flooding AND a fire??? Another emergency from the bad weather as driver tried to cross flooded road in tonight's storm in Baltimore, courtesy of @FOXBaltimore pic.twitter.com/Z5Y8ytvBOL

— Scott Thuman (@ScottThuman) July 2, 2025

The event was triggered by a cold front interacting with high atmospheric moisture and instability over the mid-Atlantic region. Thunderstorms developed during the early afternoon and intensified through the evening.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), rainfall totals ranged from 25–125 mm (1–5 inches), with local maxima. In several locations, rain fell at rates exceeding 50 mm/h (2 inches/h), leading to rapid urban flooding. NWS issued multiple Severe Thunderstorm and Flash Flood Warnings throughout the day.

In the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, thunderstorms began impacting the region at approximately 14:30 LT. Peak wind gusts reached over 95 km/h (60 mph), with a gust of 79 km/h (49 mph) recorded near the Bay Bridge in Maryland. Emergency services in northern Virginia and the District responded to reports of downed trees, submerged roads, and stranded vehicles.

In Baltimore, low-lying neighborhoods experienced widespread flooding, with several vehicles stranded in high water in the Fells Point area. Local fire and rescue services conducted multiple water rescues during the peak of the storm. Social media reports documented a vehicle fire in Baltimore associated with a failed crossing attempt through floodwaters.

In southeastern Pennsylvania, intense storms produced up to 100 mm (4 inches) of rainfall, leading to flash flooding in the counties of Lebanon, Lancaster, and Dauphin. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) confirmed multiple road closures and rescues, including a case in South Londonderry Township where a person was retrieved from the roof of a submerged vehicle. State routes across the region were impacted throughout the afternoon and evening.

The city of Philadelphia experienced flash flooding along the Schuylkill Parkway and on sections of I‑95, leading to major travel delays and vehicle stalls. Multiple Flash Flood Warnings were in effect through the evening, with the heaviest impacts recorded between 17:00 and 21:00 LT.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented ground stops at Ronald Reagan Washington National, Philadelphia International, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. More than 1 600 flights were cancelled nationwide, and delays exceeding two hours were reported at several terminals. Airlines issued advisories and urged passengers to monitor updates.

The Storm Prediction Center maintained a Level 2 out of 5 severe weather risk across the I‑95 corridor on July 1, along with a moderate flash flood risk. By 23:00 LT, the storm system had largely moved offshore, though isolated showers persisted into July 2.

References:

¹ Severe storms, flash flooding snarl travel along I-95 corridor from Washington to Philadelphia – FOX Weather – July 1, 2025

² Flash Flood Warning – NWS – Accessed on July 2, 2025

Featured image credit: FOX Baltimore (stillshot)