Virginia, 1998

Flooding in Virginia, January 28 to 31, 1998

January 28 to 31, 1998 · NWS RNK · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Heavy rain and snow melt resulted in moderate flooding on lower portions of the Roanoke River. The Roanoke River crested almost five feet above flood stage at Brookneal at 1900 EST on the 28th and over six feet above flood stage at Randolph at 1900 EST on the 29th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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.

Heavy rain and snow melt resulted in moderate flooding on lower portions of the Roanoke River. The Roanoke River crested almost five feet above flood stage at Brookneal at 1900 EST on the 28th and over six feet above flood stage at Randolph at 1900 EST on the 29th. Flooding continued into February.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Halifax

When
January 28, 7:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Halifax forecast zone
Coordinates
36.767, -78.937 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Charlotte

When
January 28, 7:00 AM EST to January 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Charlotte forecast zone
Coordinates
37.012, -78.662 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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, January 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: 5631166, 5631167.