North Carolina, 1998

Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in North Carolina, March 20, 1998

March 20, 1998 · NWS RNK · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

Heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of Nathans Creek about 1 mile northeast of Nathans Creek in eastern Ashe County. A creek in Boone was flooded with numerous cars submerged in up to five feet of water at a nearby shopping mall.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
$55,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 during the morning hours on the 20th produced damaging winds, damaging lightning, and flash flooding.Heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of Nathans Creek about 1 mile northeast of Nathans Creek in eastern Ashe County. A creek in Boone was flooded with numerous cars submerged in up to five feet of water at a nearby shopping mall. One person had to be rescued from the top of a vehicle. In addition, the South Fork of the New River near Boone was out of its banks.In Alleghany County, Brush Creek was out of its bank about 1 mile south of Cherry Lane and Piney Swamp Creek flooded Piney Swamp Road about 3 miles south of Sparta.Thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees throughout Ashe County.Lightning damaged a house in Boone.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Ashe

When
March 20, 7:30 AM EST to 7:50 AM EST
Where
Ashe County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.450, -81.480

Flash Flood, Ashe

When
March 20, 7:50 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Ashe County, 1 mi NE of Nathans Creek
Coordinates
36.434, -81.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Alleghany

When
March 20, 9:15 AM EST to 11:45 AM EST
Where
Alleghany County, 3 mi S of Sparta
Coordinates
36.491, -81.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Alleghany

When
March 20, 9:30 AM EST to 11:30 AM EST
Where
Alleghany County, 1 mi S of Cherry Lane
Coordinates
36.491, -81.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Watauga

When
March 20, 11:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Watauga County, Boone
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
36.231, -81.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Watauga

When
March 20, 11:25 AM EST
Where
Watauga County, Boone
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
36.231, -81.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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.
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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, March 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5632667, 5632665, 5632669, 5632668, 5632666, 5638132.