Flooding closed Rock Creek Parkway and Beach Drive Wednesday morning after a torrential downpour overflowed the creek and several cars had to be rescued. After the roads reopened, cars were still pulling off at the park’s rest stops and campsites, but not because they were in distress.

“It looks magnificent, and I wanted to catch it on video,” said Tom Evans, 61, a retiree from Silver Spring, as he held up his phone to record the roaring river of water. He had been on his way to buy wine in Woodley Park for his sister and brother-in-law, who he said would need the alcohol after the weather they had been experiencing. Although they hadn’t accompanied Evans, the video would show his relatives “how beautiful” the area was.