Weather Service has issued 163 flood warnings

It has been a busy month for meteorologists who oversee the Baltimore and Washington regions. The National Weather Service has issued more than five flood warnings a day, on average, far more than anywhere else in the country. The weather service office, based in Sterling, Va., has issued 163 warnings for flash floods, overflowing rivers and water-covered roadways since July 14, according to data gathered by Iowa State University. That includes warnings issued Monday night as floodwaters trapped vehicles across Baltimore County and forced water rescues. It also includes flooding during the record-setting July rainfall, with nearly 17 inches of precipitation at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Flood warnings have also been common — but only about half as numerous — across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and northern Arizona, according to the Iowa State data. Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Census to rank states by number of drunkendriving deaths per 100,000 people. Maryland ranked 43rd with 2.59 deaths per100,000. Drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when their blood alcohol concentrations are 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher. Montana ranked first in impaired driving deaths, with 9.15 per 100,000 people. New York state had the fewest, with 1.65 per 100,000. According to the report’s authors, three of the five worst states for impaired driving fatalities don’t require ignition interlocks for drivers convicted of DUI. Maryland made interlocks mandatory for everyone convicted of driving under the influence in 2016, after the bill was stymied for years by lawmakers who thought the requirement was burdensome on first-time offenders. The report’s authors added that studies show a correlation between the use of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft and a decrease in impaired driving accidents.