Virginia, 1997

Flash Flooding in Virginia, July 23, 1997

July 23, 1997 · NWS RNK · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

In Millboro Springs, the Cowpasture river flooded a residence and a church. Flooding on the Cowpasture River continue downstream to near Griffith in Alleghany 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.

  • 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
$15,000
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 rainfall during the evening hours on the 23rd resulted in flash flooding.In Millboro Springs, the Cowpasture river flooded a residence and a church. Flooding on the Cowpasture River continue downstream to near Griffith in Alleghany County. Flash flooding resulted in the closing of route 39, three miles south of Yost.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:54 UTC.

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Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Bath

When
July 23, 8:55 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Bath County, Millboro Spgs
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
38.059, -79.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bath

When
July 23, 9:30 PM EST to 10:35 PM EST
Where
Bath County, 3 mi S of Yost
Coordinates
38.059, -79.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Alleghany

When
July 23, 10:35 PM EST to 11:15 PM EST
Where
Alleghany County, 2 mi NW of Griffith
Coordinates
37.788, -80.007 (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

More

Every storm in Virginia in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, July 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: 5616018, 5616019, 5616020.