Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Virginia, January 7 to 8, 1998

Name: Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Virginia, January 7 to 8, 1998
Start: 1998-01-07T23:55
End: 1998-01-08T17:00
Location: Virginia

January 7 to 8, 1998 · NWS RNK · 15 events in 13 counties and zones

Thunderstorm winds knocked down power lines in Galax. Flash flooding in Pulaski County resulted in the closing of route 693 near Allisonia and the flooding of Big Reed Island Creek and Little Reed Island Creek.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 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: $1.1 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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 isolated thunderstorms during the early morning hours on the 8th produced damaging winds and flash flooding.Thunderstorm winds knocked down power lines in Galax. Flash flooding in Pulaski County resulted in the closing of route 693 near Allisonia and the flooding of Big Reed Island Creek and Little Reed Island Creek. Little Stoney and Big Stoney Creeks in Giles County, Little Reed Island Creek in Wythe County, Masons Creek 3 miles south of Bennett Springs in Roanoke County, Craig Creek in the southeastern portion of Craig County, and Crab Creek and the North Fork of the Roanoke River in Montgomery County were flooded. Two houses near Pearisburg in Giles County were flooded.In Rockbridge County, numerous roads were flooded and people were evacuated in Kerrs Creek, Goshen, and Rockbridge Baths. Numerous creeks and streams were flooded throughout Alleghany County. A family that lived along Wilsons Creek had to be evacuated. In Clifton Forge, Smith Creek left its banks and resulted in the occupants of a house being evacuated. The flooding of Bullpasture River in Williamsville in Bath County resulted in the evacuation of one family. Several other creeks in the eastern portion of Bath County were flooded and resulted in roads being closed. Heavy rains resulted in the flooding of Indian Creek about 2 miles southwest of Copper Valley which washed out a large portion of route 787. Several other roads throughout Floyd County were closed due to flood waters.In Carroll County, flood waters damaged some roads, washed out a few bridges, and flooded roads. Flash flooding resulted in water over roads and bridges in the northern portion of Botetourt County.High winds not associated with a thunderstorm knocked down some trees in Max Meadows and damaged a greenhouse at the Pulaski County High School in Dublin.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:53 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 flash flood, 2 high wind, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Galax (C)

When: January 7, 11:55 PM EST
Where: Galax (C) County, Galax
Coordinates: 36.670, -80.920

Flash Flood, Giles

When: January 8, 2:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Giles County, Northeast Portion
Coordinates: 37.314, -80.704 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wythe

When: January 8, 2:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where: Wythe forecast zone
Coordinates: 36.917, -81.079 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Carroll

When: January 8, 2:00 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where: Carroll County, Countywide
Property damage: $500,000
Coordinates: 36.732, -80.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: January 8, 2:30 AM EST to 6:30 AM EST
Where: Montgomery County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.174, -80.387 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Wythe

When: January 8, 2:30 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where: Wythe County, 2 mi SSE of Patterson
Coordinates: 36.917, -81.079 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pulaski

When: January 8, 2:30 AM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 37.098, -80.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Pulaski

When: January 8, 2:30 AM EST to 4:00 AM EST
Where: Pulaski County, South Portion
Coordinates: 37.064, -80.714 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Roanoke

When: January 8, 3:00 AM EST to 6:45 AM EST
Where: Roanoke County, 3 mi S of Bennett Spgs
Coordinates: 37.209, -80.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Craig

When: January 8, 3:00 AM EST to 4:30 AM EST
Where: Craig County, Southeast Portion
Coordinates: 37.481, -80.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Alleghany

When: January 8, 3:20 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Alleghany County, Countywide
Coordinates: 37.788, -80.007 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Floyd

When: January 8, 3:30 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Floyd County, Countywide
Property damage: $225,000
Coordinates: 36.932, -80.362 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Botetourt

When: January 8, 3:30 AM EST to 6:45 AM EST
Where: Botetourt County, North Portion
Coordinates: 37.557, -79.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Rockbridge

When: January 8, 4:30 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Rockbridge County, Countywide
Property damage: $350,000
Coordinates: 37.815, -79.448 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bath

When: January 8, 4:30 AM EST to 6:30 AM EST
Where: Bath County, East Portion
Coordinates: 38.059, -79.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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.
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.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5630991, 5630992, 5630996, 5631125, 5630993, 5631000, 5631001, 5631002, 5630994, 5631003, 5630998, 5630997, 5631126, 5630995, 5630999.