The National Weather Service issued a flood emergency on Sunday as rainfall totals reached nearly a foot across southwestern Connecticut, and police conducted multiple water rescues across the region.
Heavy thunderstorms continued to move across Fairfield and New Haven counties Sunday afternoon, dumping 5 to 9 inches of rain, with at least another inch expected. The New York National Weather Service issued a flood emergency for those areas, warning that conditions were particularly dangerous and that “widespread water rescue operations are underway.”
Massive flash flooding washed out roads and stranded vehicles in cities including Stamford, Danbury and Southbury.
In Danbury, emergency response and public works teams were dispatched to the Woodland Hills complex on Shelter Rock Road, where a landslide caused a gas leak and evacuations were conducted, according to the NWS and Danbury Emergency Management Agency.
Video shows drivers trying to wade through headlight-deep water near the Southbury Plaza shopping center in Southbury.
Another video from Southbury showed water from a creek flooding Flat Hill Road, although the cameraman said drivers had been able to cross the road less than 30 minutes earlier.
Local authorities are urging drivers to stay off the roads.
“Due to the continued rain, flooding is occurring on many roads throughout the city. We are currently working to close off these areas and ask that everyone remain at home,” Samford Police Department officials said. “Please do not drive through flooded water as it is difficult to determine how deep the water is, manhole covers may come loose and vehicles may remain submerged.”
The heavy rain is expected to stop late Sunday night.
