Flash Flooding in West Virginia, March 20 to 21, 1998

An area of deep low pressure over the southeastern U.S. moved slowly into the southern middle Atlantic region in a 24-hour period from the morning of the 20th through the morning of the 21st, then off the coast by evening of the 21st. The low, which entrained deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, aided in dumping storm total rainfall of 1 to 2 inches, with perhaps higher totals along the Allegheny divide. The rain, falling onto saturated soil in a winter of wet weather, produced areas of small stream and creek flooding - as well as high standing water - which closed several roads.A mudslide affected federal highway 220 near the Grant/Pendleton Co line. Otherwise, several streams and creeks were at or just above bankful in Grant Co. Elsewhere, a combination of 22 primary and secondary roads were closed in Berkeley and Jefferson Cos, including state highways 51, 9, and 7 (all in Jefferson Co). At least two water rescues were required; one along the Berkeley/Jefferson Co line when a man was stranded in a van on a water-covered bridge (Sulphur Springs Road); the other a woman who was attempting to drive through a foot of standing water on Henshaw Road in southern Berkeley Co. Some basement flooding was reported in the panhandle, and a few small streams and creeks were out of their banks.