Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 17, 1998

Name: Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, April 17, 1998
Start: 1998-04-17T02:00
End: 1998-04-17T07:00
Location: North Carolina

April 17, 1998 · NWS RNK · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of Moravian, Cub and Mill Creeks in the southern portion of Wilkes County. Numerous roads were washed out, damaged,or flooded.

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: $600,000
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.

Thunderstorms produced flash flooding and damaging winds in north-central and northwest North Carolina during the early morning hours on the 17th.Heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of Moravian, Cub and Mill Creeks in the southern portion of Wilkes County. Numerous roads were washed out, damaged,or flooded. In Wilkesboro, over a dozen businesses were damaged by flood waters. Road damage was estimated at $500,000.Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines five miles northwest of Stoneville and knocked down a large tree in King.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flash Flood, Wilkes

When: April 17, 2:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Wilkes County, South Portion
Property damage: $600,000
Coordinates: 36.206, -81.163 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Stokes

When: April 17, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Stokes County, King
Coordinates: 36.280, -80.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Rockingham

When: April 17, 3:30 AM EST
Where: Rockingham County, 5 mi NW of Stoneville
Coordinates: 36.520, -79.970

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.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, April 1998

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5643039, 5643040, 5643038.