Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Virginia, March 20, 1998

Thunderstorms during the late morning and afternoon hours produced a tornado, flash flooding, hail up to golfball size, and damaging winds.From the same storm that produced two tornadoes in North Carolina, a tornado formed about 2 miles west of Sandy Level in extreme southeastern Henry County and travelled northeast about 11 miles before dissipating about 2 miles west of Whitmell in Pittsylvania County. This tornado was generally from 100 to 200 yards wide, with damage in some areas up to 350 yards wide. This tornado damaged or destroyed several vehicles, barns, and outbuildings, and more than 60 residences, damaged two churches, and toppled trees and power lines. Some of the fallen trees blocked roads for a period of time. Just before the tornado formed, trees and power lines were knocked down and large branches of trees were snapped off from the North Carolina border 3 miles west southwest of Sandy Level to 2 miles west of Sandy Level.Heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of a creek near the Virginia Tech Airport, flooding of Sinking Creek near route 460 about 5 miles east southeast of Pembroke, flooded routes 252 and 606 about 2 miles northeast of Brownsburg, and resulted in the closing of route 11 at two locations about two miles north of Shawsville.The flooding of several creeks and streams in southwest Roanoke City, resulting in road closings and the flooding of several vehicles, a few residences, and two businesses. A portion of the first floor of a hotel was flooded.In Bedford County, West Fork Creek flooded route 24 about a mile east of Stewartsville and several roads in and near Montvale were flooded.In Pulaski County, Peak Creek flooded a road in Pulaski.