Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Virginia, January 28, 1998

A fairly intense and slow-moving nor'easter produced a large area of moderate to heavy rains across central and northeastern Virginia beginning late on the 27th and continuing through late afternoon on the 28th. The heaviest rains fell while the storm tracked along the South and North Carolina coastline. Storm totals ranged from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches, with isolated totals of over 3 inches at higher elevations along the foothills, as well as portions of the Northern Neck region.Widespread minor to moderate flooding of small streams, creeks, and low-lying areas occurred over all of the Piedmont, stretching east to King George Co in the Northern Neck. The Virginia Department of Transportation reported over 150 roads closed in the area due to high standing water, or creeks that exceeded bankful. Some of the larger number of road closures included: Shenandoah Co (32 - a combination of runoff, poor drainage, and some river flooding); Loudoun Co (27); Frederick Co (15); Orange Co (13); Albemarle Co (12). Drainage flooding occurred in Waynesboro (Augusta Co) when the combination of slowly melting snow and runoff closed six roads.The storm also produced wind gusts in excess of 30 mph from the eastern Piedmont through the coastal plain. The combination of gusty winds and saturated soil caused isolated instances of trees, limbs, and power lines to come down. Two trees fell in a yard in Mt Vernon (VAZ053) during the afternoon of the 28th.