North Carolina, 1998

Flash Flooding in North Carolina, September 4, 1998

September 4, 1998 · NWS RAH · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

5 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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
None recorded
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.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Alamance

When
September 4, 1:00 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where
Alamance County, Countywide
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.044, -79.399 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The remnants of Hurricane Earl spread heavy rain across Alamance county during the early morning hours. Totals of 3 to 5 inches were common. This caused serious flooding of streams and creeks. Many rural roads were closed due to high water. Ponding of water due to poor drainage was also common in the larger communities.

Flash Flood, Stanly

When
September 4, 1:00 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where
Stanly County, Countywide
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.312, -80.251 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The remnants of Hurricane Earl dropped copious amounts of rainfall on Stanly county. Rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches were common. Of course, this caused most streams and creeks to overflow their banks, closing rural and urban roads. Some homes and businesses were affected.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When
September 4, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Montgomery County, Countywide
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.333, -79.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The remnants of Hurricane Earl dropped very heavy rain on Montgomery county. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches were reported. This flooded creeks and streams, which lead to the closing of many rural and urban highways.

Flash Flood, Anson

When
September 4, 2:00 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Anson County, Countywide
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.974, -80.103 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The slow moving remnants of Earl produced very heavy rainfall across Anson county. Reports of 5 to 7 inches of rain during the morning were received.. This produced serious flooding of streams and creeks, which flooded many rural roads and poor drainage areas.

Flash Flood, Davidson

When
September 4, 2:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where
Davidson County, Countywide
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.793, -80.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large shield of heavy rain...associated with Hurricane Earl...produced rainfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches in Davidson county during the early morning hours. The heaviest rain fell in the southern half of the county. This flooded many roads, as local streams and creeks overflowed their banks,

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 North Carolina in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, September 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: 5666773, 5666774, 5666775, 5666841, 5666842.