Virginia, 1998

Flash Flooding in Virginia, April 19, 1998

April 19, 1998 · NWS RNK · 7 events in 6 counties and zones

Numerous roads were flooded and closed in and around Pulaski, including Peak Creek. Mudslides occurred in Pulaski and in Prices Fork.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
7

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.

Heavy rainfall during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 19th resulted in flash flooding.Numerous roads were flooded and closed in and around Pulaski, including Peak Creek. Mudslides occurred in Pulaski and in Prices Fork. In Wythe County, several creeks and streams were flooded. Fall Creek and Stuart Creeks in Patrick County were flooded. Kogar Creek flooded route 620 six miles southwest of Bassett. In Rockbridge County, Hays Creek was flooded 3 miles southeast of Brownsburg and the route 608/699 intersection was flooded by a creek about 5 miles southeast of Lexington.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Wythe

When
April 19, 2:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Wythe County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.917, -81.079 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Pulaski

When
April 19, 2:30 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Pulaski County, Pulaski
Coordinates
37.064, -80.714 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When
April 19, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Montgomery County, Prices Fork
Coordinates
37.174, -80.387 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Patrick

When
April 19, 3:30 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Patrick County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.678, -80.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Henry

When
April 19, 4:30 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Henry County, 6 mi SW of Bassett
Coordinates
36.685, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Rockbridge

When
April 19, 5:00 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Rockbridge County, 3 mi SE of Brownsburg
Coordinates
37.815, -79.448 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Rockbridge

When
April 19, 5:10 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Rockbridge County, 5 mi SE of Lexington
Coordinates
37.815, -79.448 (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.

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: 5643033, 5643031, 5643032, 5643034, 5643035, 5643036, 5643037.