Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 29, NWS Blacksburg, VA
NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 4, 2026, 8:19 PM EDT for Alleghany County, North Carolina. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 4, 2026, 8:19 PM EDT (00:19 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 5, 2026, 12:21 AM EDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Blacksburg, VA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Damage threat
- Considerable
- Flood severity
- None
County Alleghany County, NC
The radar
The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:20 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 108 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 310 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -31 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 734 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -1 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -5 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.2
The text
As transmitted.
645
WGUS51 KRNK 050019
FFWRNK
NCC005-050630-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0029.260805T0019Z-260805T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
819 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Eastern Alleghany NC County in northwestern North Carolina...
* Until 230 AM EDT Wednesday.
* At 819 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
producing flash flooding.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Glade Valley... Roaring Gap...
Barrett...
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Mill Creek, Little Sandy Creek, South Fork Mitchell River, Little
River, Brush Creek, Pine Swamp Creek, East Prong Roaring River,
Rich Mountain Creek, Mitchell River, Big Sandy Creek, Glade Creek,
Elkin Creek and Big Pine Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of flooding,
including mudslides or flooded roads, to the National Weather
Service by calling toll free at 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. Reports
and pictures can also be shared on the National Weather Service
Blacksburg Facebook page and on X.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 8093 3649 8093 3645 8098 3642 8096
3638 8098 3638 8103 3639 8104 3641 8104
3642 8108 3643 8108 3643 8109 3654 8108
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
SH2 follow-up statements
444
WGUS71 KRNK 050242
FFSRNK
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1042 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026
NCC005-050630-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260805T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Alleghany NC NC-
1042 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM EDT WEDNESDAY
FOR EASTERN ALLEGHANY NC COUNTY...
At 1042 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Glade Valley... Roaring Gap...
Barrett...
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Big Pine Creek, South Fork Mitchell River, Pine Swamp Creek, Rich
Mountain Creek, Brush Creek, Big Sandy Creek, Mitchell River, East
Prong Roaring River, Little Sandy Creek, Little River, Mill Creek,
Elkin Creek and Glade Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
When it is safe to do so, please send your reports of flooding,
including mudslides or flooded roads, to the National Weather
Service by calling toll free at 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. Reports
and pictures can also be shared on the National Weather Service
Blacksburg Facebook page and on X.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 8093 3649 8093 3645 8098 3642 8096
3638 8098 3638 8103 3639 8104 3641 8104
3642 8108 3643 8108 3643 8109 3654 8108
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
AS702
WGUS71 KRNK 050421
FFSRNK
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1221 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026
NCC005-050431-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260805T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Alleghany NC NC-
1221 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EASTERN ALLEGHANY NC
COUNTY...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 8093 3649 8093 3645 8098 3642 8096
3638 8098 3638 8103 3639 8104 3641 8104
3642 8108 3643 8108 3643 8109 3654 8108
$$
ASWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 4, 1:43 PM EDT, 6 hours 36 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for Virginia and the Carolinas today/tonight. 2) Unsettled weather will persist through the rest of this week with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 1:43 PM EDT, 6 hours 36 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 143 PM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... No significant change to the forecast. Daily threat of showers and thunderstorms. Primary hazard is localized heavy rain, but some potential for strong damaging winds across the Carolinas this afternoon. && .KEY MESSAGES... 1) There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for Virginia and the Carolinas today/tonight. 2) Unsettled weather will persist through the rest of this week with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for Virginia and the Carolinas today/tonight. A very moist airmass remains in place today with persistent easterly flow advecting deep moisture into the region. Surface analysis indicates that a stalled boundary is draped over the region, in addition to a wave of low pressure that is easily identifiable in the satellite water vapor imagery. The concerning factor is the low is nearly stationary which means steering winds will remain stagnant with little or no geographic change in the position of the surface front today. As such, expect persistent formation of showers and a few storms within the vicinity of the front, with heaviest of the rain today falling over southern Virginia and into North Carolina. This is where hi-res CAM guidance continues to pinpoint on the greatest coverage of heavy rainfall. 12z RNK RAOB shows an increase in Precipitable Water when compared to yesterday and current RAP analysis continues to increase these values, with some of the area now closing in on 2 inch values. This will result in very efficient rainfall which could lead to an increased potential for flash flooding through late this evening. Away from the convergent zone near the surface front, not expecting a lot of shower coverage. However, heating of the day instability driven showers are still possible but they should not be as organized as what is expected along the actual surface front. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a small marginal risk area for strong to severe storms over western North Carolina...an area closer to the center of the upper low. Warming surface temperatures in the higher terrain will result in scattered convective initiation across the southern Appalachians. As instability peaks and low-level lapse rates become steep over the next few hours, an isolated wind-damage threat is expected to develop in the western Carolinas. By tonight, loss of daytime heating should mitigate any severe threat, but a localized excessive rain hazard will linger. The surface front over southern VA should begin to lift north as the upper low begins to open up and shear out. This should reconfigure the axis of low level convergence with areas closer to the US 460/I-64 corridor targeted for the higher qpf overnight. KEY MESSAGE 2...Unsettled weather will persist through the rest of this week with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. The upper low over the Mid-Atlantic will shear out and weaken Wednesday. Meanwhile a large upper level ridge builds over Bermuda and another upper level trough approaches the Great Lakes. Wind flow between these two features will maintain a persistent flow of moisture into the forecast area, enough to fuel daily showers and thunderstorms, most of which should coincide with the peak heating of the day favoring the afternoon and evening hours. We are not expecting anything severe, but a marginal risk for flash flooding will continue to be a hazard due to the potential for high rain rates which may lead to runoff issues. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Persistent easterly flow and a front within the vicinity has kept clouds over the region, with MVFR cigs quite common for most terminals. This will likely continue throughout the afternoon and evening, along with the potential for heavy downpours that could cause brief vsby reductions. Expecting deteriorating conditions overnight as clouds lower and fog develops...IFR/LIFR becoming more likely for most terminals. Slow to improve Wednesday morning with sub VFR possibly lingering again throughout much of the day. Winds generally remain out of the east today...going light to calm overnight. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Scattered, mainly afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected the remainder of the week. Abundant moisture favors MVFR ceilings at times along with patchy overnight fog. && .HYDROLOGY... There is a marginal risk for excessive rainfall the next several days. Repeated chances of showers and thunderstorms amidst a moist air mass will persist the remainder of this week. Not a lot of confidence in the details for any particular location. PWAT values expected to remain in the 1.50" to 2.00" range. High ambient moisture will produce very efficient rainfall rates which could exceed 2-3 inches per hour. Urban areas and along mountainous terrain will be particularly susceptible to flash flooding. Antecedent soil conditions are gradually turning wetter across the area, but there are still considerable rainfall deficits across the Piedmont. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && DISCUSSION...BMG/PM AVIATION...BMG HYDROLOGY...BMG/PM
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 10:56 AM EDT, 9 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1056 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>044-507-508-051500- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson- Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge- Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell- Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe- Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 1056 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina, northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia, southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Localized heavy rain is possible with isolated flash flooding today and tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Thunderstorms developing each afternoon and evening may produce locally heavy rainfall that could cause a risk of flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 11:33 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RNK | Surry, Yadkin | 3 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.