Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in North Carolina, January 7 to 8, 1998

Name: Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in North Carolina, January 7 to 8, 1998
Start: 1998-01-07T23:00
End: 1998-01-08T04:00
Location: North Carolina

January 7 to 8, 1998 · NWS RNK · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Flash flooding in Watauga County resulted in the evacuation of 7 homes in Foscoe and a nursing home in Boone and flooded numerous roads. Several roads were damaged from flood waters in the northeastern portion of Ashe County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: $410,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 in northwestern North Carolina during the evening hours on the 7th and early morning hours on the 8th resulted in flash flooding and damaging winds.Flash flooding in Watauga County resulted in the evacuation of 7 homes in Foscoe and a nursing home in Boone and flooded numerous roads. Several roads were damaged from flood waters in the northeastern portion of Ashe County. Flood waters washed out a bridge on Brushy Creek near Cherry Lane in Alleghany County and flooded and damaged some roads in Wilkes County.In Surry County, thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees and outbuildings in Low Gap and knocked down trees throughout Surry County.

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 153 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flash Flood, Watauga

When: January 7, 11:00 PM EST to January 8, 3:30 AM EST
Where: Watauga County, Countywide
Coordinates: 36.231, -81.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Surry

When: January 7, 11:45 PM EST to January 8, 12:15 AM EST
Where: Surry County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 36.420, -80.680

Flash Flood, Alleghany

When: January 8, 12:25 AM EST to 2:00 AM EST
Where: Alleghany County, Cherry Lane
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 36.491, -81.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Ashe

When: January 8, 12:30 AM EST to 3:30 AM EST
Where: Ashe County, North Portion
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 36.434, -81.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Wilkes

When: January 8, 1:15 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where: Wilkes County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 36.206, -81.163 (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.
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, January 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: 5631131, 5631132, 5631129, 5631130, 5631133.