Virginia, 1998

Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Virginia, April 17, 1998

April 17, 1998 · NWS RNK · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorm winds destroyed a farm storage building and three out buildings, slightly damaged three mobile homes and knocked downed several trees about a mile south southwest of Sandy Level. Heavy rains resulted in the flooding of Spoon and Witt Creek in southeastern Patrick County.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 early morning hours on the 17th produced damaging winds and flash flooding.Thunderstorm winds destroyed a farm storage building and three out buildings, slightly damaged three mobile homes and knocked downed several trees about a mile south southwest of Sandy Level. Heavy rains resulted in the flooding of Spoon and Witt Creek in southeastern Patrick County.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flash Flood, Patrick

When
April 17, 2:00 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where
Patrick County, Southeast Portion
Coordinates
36.678, -80.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When
April 17, 3:45 AM EST
Where
Henry County, 1 mi SSW of Sandy Level
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
36.550, -79.720

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

More

Every storm in Virginia in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5643042, 5643041.