Flash Flood in Virginia, June 24, 1996

Name: Flash Flood in Virginia, June 24, 1996
Start: 1996-06-24T14:00
End: 1996-06-24T16:30
Location: Virginia

June 24, 1996 · NWS LWX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Training thunderstorms, aided by an impressive rapid return of tropical moisture ahead of a surface pressure trough, produced a deluge of an estimated 3 to 4 inches of rain in northern Shenandoah Co, causing localized dangerous flash flooding. In Toms Brook, over nine roads were closed, and 20 secondary roads sustained significant damage.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $130,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

Training thunderstorms, aided by an impressive rapid return of tropical moisture ahead of a surface pressure trough, produced a deluge of an estimated 3 to 4 inches of rain in northern Shenandoah Co, causing localized dangerous flash flooding. In one instance, an NWS employee traveling along federal highway 522 and interstate 81 between Woodstock and Strasburg noted very high water flowing across the road.In Toms Brook, over nine roads were closed, and 20 secondary roads sustained significant damage. In Strasburg, a house's rear wall was moved. Large areas of Ash street were eroded by the raging waters; guard rails were also washed away.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Shenandoah

When: June 24, 2:00 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where: Shenandoah County, Woodstock
Property damage: $130,000
Coordinates: 38.858, -78.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, June 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5561009.