Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Virginia, September 19, 2000

Name: Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Virginia, September 19, 2000
Start: 2000-09-19T00:00
End: 2000-09-19T19:00
Location: Virginia

September 19, 2000 · NWS LWX · 16 events in 16 counties and zones

The remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon moved across the northern half of Virginia on the 19th. 5 inches were recorded.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 16 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

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 LWX wrote it up.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon moved across the northern half of Virginia on the 19th. Rainfall amounts between 1 and 4.5 inches were recorded. In Frederick County, 2.17 inches fell in Winchester, 1.83 inches fell at Star Tannery, and 1.81 inches was reported in Gore. Isaac Creek near Cross Junction overflowed its banks and flooded Route 689. In Warren County, rainfall totals included 4.30 inches on Hogback Mountain, 3.64 inches in Browntown, 3.04 inches at Manassas Gap, 2.88 inches at Chester Gap, 2.81 inches in Front Royal, 2.80 inches in Limeton, and 2.12 inches in Neneveh. Happy Creek overflowed its banks in Front Royal and flooded Eighth Street. Across the county, Ritenour Hollow Road and Oregon Hollow Road were closed by high water. In Fauquier County, 1.80 inches fell in Warrenton. In Loudoun County, 2.49 inches was recorded in Lincoln. Dulles International Airport broke the daily rainfall record after 1.24 inches fell. In Fairfax County, 2.30 inches was reported in Centreville and 2.02 inches fell in Fairfax. In Prince William County, up to 2.45 inches was recorded in Woodbridge.In Page County, 4.38 inches fell at Rocky Branch, 2.79 inches fell at Big Meadows, 2.20 inches fell at Lewis Mountain Camp, and 1.92 inches fell at Skyland. In Shenandoah County, rainfall totals included 3.59 inches at Detrick, 3.24 inches at Camp Roosevelt, 3.04 inches in Strasburg, 2.72 inches in Woodstock, 2.64 inches at Zepp, 2.44 inches at Fetzer Gap, 2.24 inches at Tumbling Run, 2.09 inches in New Market, and 1.63 inches in Edinburg. High water was reported on Route 11 south of Woodstock. In Madison County, rainfall totals included 3.22 inches at Syria, 2.72 inches on Route 29 near Robinson Road, 2.19 inches in Hood, and 1.76 inches in Nethers. In Rappahannock County, 3.5 inches was reported in Castleton, 3.33 inches fell in Sperryville, 2.83 inches fell in Washington, and 2.62 inches fell at Massie's Corner. In Culpeper County, 2.87 inches was reported in Boston. In Orange County, 1.62 inches was reported in Somerset. In Albemarle County, 1.88 inches fell at McCormic Observatory and 1.77 inches fell in Charlottesville. In Augusta County, rainfall totals included 3.04 inches in Sherando, 2.84 inches in Spottswood, 2.28 inches in Middlebrook, 2.20 inches in Staunton, 2.00 inches at Stoney Creek, and 1.80 inches at Toms Branch and Upper Sherando.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 heavy rain, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Winchester (C)

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Winchester (C) County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.186, -78.163 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Loudoun

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Loudoun County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.091, -77.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Fairfax

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Fairfax County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.835, -77.276 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Fauquier

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Fauquier County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.739, -77.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Shenandoah

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Shenandoah County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.858, -78.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Rappahannock

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Rappahannock County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.685, -78.159 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Page

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Page County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.620, -78.484 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Madison

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Madison County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.414, -78.279 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Culpeper

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Culpeper County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.486, -77.956 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Orange

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Orange County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.246, -78.013 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Albemarle

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Albemarle County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.023, -78.556 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Charlottesville (C)

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Charlottesville (C) County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.029, -78.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Staunton (C)

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Staunton (C) County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.149, -79.060 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Augusta

When: September 19, 12:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Augusta County, Countywide
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.165, -79.134 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Frederick

When: September 19, 11:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Frederick County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 39.205, -78.263 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads were closed after Isaac's Creek overflowed its banks.

Flash Flood, Warren

When: September 19, 11:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Warren County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 38.909, -78.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads were flooded after Happy Creek overflowed its banks.

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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 2000 Every state in 2000 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, September 2000

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: 5157105, 5157305, 5157306, 5157307, 5157308, 5157310, 5157311, 5157312, 5157313, 5157314, 5157315, 5157316, 5157317, 5157318, 5157304, 5157309.