Flash Flooding in Virginia, September 15 to 25, 1999

Name: Flash Flooding in Virginia, September 15 to 25, 1999
Start: 1999-09-15T20:15
End: 1999-09-25T18:00
Location: Virginia

September 15 to 25, 1999 · NWS AKQ · 43 events in 43 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 43 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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $17 million
Crop damage: $3.7 million
Events: 43

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 AKQ wrote it up.

Very heavy rain from Hurricane Floyd produced widespread flooding and flash flooding across much of central and eastern Virginia, and northeast North Carolina. Rainfall amounts generally ranged from near 7 inches from eastern Caroline county to Richmond City to Brunswick, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg counties, to 12 to 18 inches in much of the Virginia Tidewater. Numerous roads were washed out due to flooding. Many areas normally prone only to flooding of poor drainage and low lying areas experienced significant flash flooding. Primary routes out of service included US 460 near Wakefield, US 58 near Emporia and Franklin, and Interstate 95 south of Petersburg to Emporia. River flooding was extensive and prolonged in the Chowan River Basin. The Blackwater, Meherrin and Nottoway Rivers exceeded flood stage. Water levels in the city of Franklin were estimated to be several feet above the flood of record which occurred in August 1940. The flooding was considered to be a 500 year flood of record. Also, there were enormous agricultural/crop losses due to the flooding.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

43 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Northampton

When: September 15, 8:15 PM EST to September 16, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Northampton County, Countywide
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.301, -75.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Chesapeake (C)

When: September 15, 8:30 PM EST to September 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Chesapeake (C) County, Chesapeake
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.688, -76.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Norfolk (C)

When: September 15, 8:30 PM EST to September 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Norfolk (C) County, Norfolk
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.891, -76.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Portsmouth (C)

When: September 15, 8:30 PM EST to September 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Portsmouth (C) County, Portsmouth
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.837, -76.308 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Southampton

When: September 15, 8:30 PM EST to September 25, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Southampton County, Countywide
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 36.720, -77.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Franklin (C)

When: September 15, 8:30 PM EST to September 25, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Franklin (C) County, Franklin
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 36.678, -76.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Isle of Wight

When: September 15, 8:30 PM EST to September 23, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Isle of Wight County, Countywide
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.907, -76.709 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Suffolk (C)

When: September 15, 8:30 PM EST to September 16, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Suffolk (C) County, Suffolk
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.709, -76.608 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Newport News (C)

When: September 15, 9:30 PM EST to September 18, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Newport News (C) County, Newport News
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.063, -76.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hampton (C)

When: September 15, 9:30 PM EST to September 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Hampton (C) County, Hampton
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.063, -76.333 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Surry

When: September 15, 10:00 PM EST to September 19, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Surry County, Countywide
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.117, -76.888 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, James City

When: September 15, 10:00 PM EST to September 17, 6:00 AM EST
Where: James City County, Countywide
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.313, -76.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Williamsburg (C)

When: September 15, 10:00 PM EST to September 17, 6:00 AM EST
Where: Williamsburg (C) County, Williamsburg
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.271, -76.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, York

When: September 15, 10:00 PM EST to September 17, 6:00 AM EST
Where: York County, Countywide
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.225, -76.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Poquoson

When: September 15, 10:00 PM EST to September 17, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Poquoson County, Countywide
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.122, -76.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Gloucester

When: September 15, 10:15 PM EST to September 16, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Gloucester County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.401, -76.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mathews

When: September 15, 10:15 PM EST to September 16, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Mathews County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.417, -76.271 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Prince George

When: September 16, 12:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Prince George County, Countywide
Property damage: $1.4 million
Crop damage: $900,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.187, -77.224 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Petersburg (C)

When: September 16, 12:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Petersburg (C) County, Petersburg
Property damage: $650,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.228, -77.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Greensville

When: September 16, 12:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Greensville County, Countywide
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $1.2 million
Crop damage: $800,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.676, -77.560 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Sussex

When: September 16, 12:00 AM EST to September 19, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Sussex County, Countywide
Property damage: $4.4 million
Crop damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.922, -77.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Emporia

When: September 16, 12:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Emporia County, Emporia
Property damage: $195,000
Crop damage: $55,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.686, -77.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, New Kent

When: September 16, 1:45 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: New Kent County, Countywide
Property damage: $650,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.505, -76.997 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, King and Queen

When: September 16, 2:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: King and Queen County, Countywide
Property damage: $617,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.719, -76.895 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, King William

When: September 16, 2:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: King William County, Countywide
Property damage: $275,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.707, -77.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Middlesex

When: September 16, 2:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Middlesex County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.597, -76.578 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Lancaster

When: September 16, 2:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Lancaster County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.702, -76.420 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Mecklenburg

When: September 16, 2:45 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Mecklenburg County, Countywide
Property damage: $153,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.680, -78.363 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Colonial Heights (C)

When: September 16, 4:45 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Colonial Heights (C) County, Colonial Hgts
Property damage: $1.2 million
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.244, -77.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Chesterfield

When: September 16, 4:45 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Chesterfield County, Countywide
Property damage: $3.0 million
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.379, -77.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Dinwiddie

When: September 16, 4:45 AM EST to September 20, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Dinwiddie County, Countywide
Property damage: $870,000
Crop damage: $420,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.076, -77.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Brunswick

When: September 16, 5:15 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Brunswick County, Countywide
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.765, -77.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Nottoway

When: September 16, 5:15 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Nottoway County, Countywide
Property damage: $18,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.143, -78.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Westmoreland

When: September 16, 5:15 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Westmoreland County, Countywide
Property damage: $195,000
Crop damage: $55,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.113, -76.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Richmond

When: September 16, 5:15 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Richmond County, Countywide
Property damage: $654,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.937, -76.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Northumberland

When: September 16, 5:15 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Northumberland County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.882, -76.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Richmond (C)

When: September 16, 5:15 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Richmond (C) County, Richmond
Property damage: $176,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.554, -77.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Amelia

When: September 16, 5:30 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Amelia County, Countywide
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.336, -77.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Essex

When: September 16, 5:30 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Essex County, Countywide
Property damage: $195,000
Crop damage: $20,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.939, -76.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hanover

When: September 16, 5:30 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Hanover County, Countywide
Property damage: $67,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.760, -77.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Henrico

When: September 16, 5:30 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Henrico County, Countywide
Property damage: $600,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.458, -77.296 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Lunenburg

When: September 16, 5:30 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Lunenburg County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.946, -78.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Caroline

When: September 16, 6:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Caroline County, Countywide
Property damage: $122,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.027, -77.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Flash Flood, Greensville	1999-09-15	9	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

What these are

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, September 1999

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: 5720245, 5720141, 5720142, 5720240, 5720241, 5720242, 5720243, 5720244, 5720251, 5720252, 5720246, 5720247, 5720248, 5720249, 5720250, 5720253, 5720254, 5720136, 5720137, 5720138, 5720139, 5720140, 5720133, 5720130, 5720131, 5720255, 5720256, 5720132, 5720123, 5720124, 5720125, 5720127, 5720135, 5720257, 5720258, 5720259, 5720260, 5720121, 5720126, 5720128, and more.