A record-breaking 3.38 inches of rain fell by 4 p.m. Thursday in Columbia, setting a record for Aug. 6 and causing widespread flooding throughout the city. The previous record for the day was 2.5 inches, set in 1995. Only five other highest-rainfall dates in August have seen more rain since record-keeping began in 1890. As the rain persisted throughout the day Thursday, sections of major routes including WW, ZZ, KK and U.S. 40 were closed because of the flooding.