Virginia, 1997

Flash Flooding and Flood in Virginia, April 29, 1997

April 29, 1997 · NWS RNK · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Heavy rain during the late evening hours on the 28th and morning hours on the 29th produced flash flooding and urban/small stream flooding. Flash flooding resulted in the closing of route several roads throughout Halifax County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 RNK wrote it up.

Heavy rain during the late evening hours on the 28th and morning hours on the 29th produced flash flooding and urban/small stream flooding. Flash flooding resulted in the closing of route several roads throughout Halifax County. Heavy rainfall on the east side of Danville flooded Fall Creek which resulted in some evacuations. In addition, route 703 near Chatham in Pittsylvania County was flooded and closed.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:33 UTC.

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Event by event

2 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Halifax

When
April 29, 12:33 AM EST to 8:30 AM EST
Where
Halifax County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.767, -78.937 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Danville (C)

When
April 29, 5:05 AM EST to 8:30 AM EST
Where
Danville (C) County, 3 mi E of Danville
Coordinates
36.586, -79.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Pittsylvania

When
April 29, 6:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Pittsylvania County, 2 mi E of Chatham
Coordinates
36.821, -79.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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

More

Every storm in Virginia in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, April 1997

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: 5599363, 5599364, 5599365.