HOWARD COUNTY, MD — All southbound lanes of US 29 were closed Sunday night in Howard County due to high water. The closure was at MD 175, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

The lane closures took effect before 8 p.m.; all southbound lanes on Route 29 remain closed after midnight on Monday. Northbound lanes were unaffected. The high water came after several rounds of storms poured inches of rain on Howard County.



A flood warning was in effect for parts of Howard County until 4:30 a.m. on Monday.

The Little Patuxent was expected to flood for most of the night downstream of Columbia, the National Weather Service reported. Earlier, Howard County was under a flash flood warning until 12:45 a.m. on Monday, with stream gauges indicating flash flooding along the Little Patuxent River from Columbia downstream.

"Water levels are still rising, with the stream in Columbia currently more than 5 feet above flood stage," the weather service reported at 9:27 p.m. "Flash flooding is already occurring, and other areas are likely to have streams out of their banks as well from earlier rainfall."

Drivers should turn around when encountering flooded roads. Officials advise people to turn around; don't drown.

"Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding," weather officials warn. "Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate precautions to protect life and property." Locations that may experience flooding include Columbia, Severn, Elkridge, Ellicott City, Savage-Guilford, Scaggsville, Ilchester, Linthicum, Jessup, Savage, Fulton, Highland, Hanover, Simpsonville, Clarksville and Harmans as well as these waterways: Middle Patuxent River, Patapsco River, Midway Branch, Piney Run, Dorsey Run, Severn River, Patuxent River, Little Patuxent River, Stony Run, Red Hill Branch, Deep Run, Sawmill Creek and Severn Run.