Meteorological History
The flooding was attributed to several weather factors that all came together over the region.
The primary factor was the stalling of the jet stream just to the west of the Appalachian Mountains. That, combined with the Bermuda High over the Atlantic Ocean, blocked any systems from moving inland or offshore. The influence of a tropical low (which nearly became a tropical storm but did not attain a full surface circulation) off the North Carolina coast allowed a constant stream of tropical moisture to enter the Mid-Atlantic region. The resulting heavy and prolonged rains overflowed the banks of many rivers, lakes, and streams, leading to the flooding.
A senior National Weather Service meteorologist declared that rain events of this size take place in the region only every 200 years.
Read more about this topic: Mid-Atlantic United States Flood Of 2006
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