Flash Flood in West Virginia, January 19, 1996

An unprecedented combination, in recent history, of unseasonably warm, humid air overriding a dense snow pack estimated between 12 and 18 inches (but up to 2 feet of more at higher elevations) caused nearly all of the pack to vanish in a 12-hour period. The unseasonably warm air was drawn northward around the circulation of a deepening storm west of the Appalachians late on the 18th and early on the 19th. The melting snow, combined with downpours, produced catastrophic flooding over portions of the Potomac Highlands on the 19th.Strong low-level southeast flow developed by late afternoon on the 18th. Initially, colder temperatures in sheltered valleys slowed the rate of snow melt while the warm moist air mass attacked the snow pack at higher elevations. By mid-evening, however, even lower elevations were warming rapidly. Flash flooding began at around the same time as the onset of heavy pre-frontal rains. Heavier showers fell over the same areas between 0400 and 0800EST, causing acute and widespread flooding and flash flooding to occur. Some areas received between 3 and 5 inches of rain during this period.The most serious flooding was reported in the Potomac Highlands, with Pendleton and Grant Cos receiving the worst of it. The towns of Franklin and Circleville (Pendleton Co), and Petersburg (Grant Co) were evacuated at around 0800EST. Damage was estimated to be around $10 million in Pendleton Co alone. High water from an overflowing creek knocked homes off their foundations in Mathias (Hardy Co); major flooding was reported countywide, where the highest storm total rainfall was noted (5 inches). Flooding was also acute in Morgan Co, where Berkeley Springs was inundated by rising waters.Across the entire region, numerous creeks and streams were out of their banks well into Friday morning, closing roads, damaging homes and businesses, and causing mud and debris slides. One death was reported by Morgan Co officials. A 51 year old woman drove through high water signs and her vehicle stalled. She inexplicably left her vehicle and tried to seek safety, but was swept to her death in the current.