Flood, Smyth
- When
- November 19, 12:15 PM EST to November 20, 2:15 AM EST
- Where
- Smyth forecast zone
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 36.844, -81.537 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood in Virginia, November 19 to 20, 2003
Heavy rains on the 18th and 19th caused flooding along the North, Middle and South Forks of the Holston River. There were many roads that were inundated by the flood waters, as well as property damage to many homes.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 rains on the 18th and 19th caused flooding along the North, Middle and South Forks of the Holston River. The North Fork of the Holston at Saltville crested almost five and a half feet above flood stage, which is a record flood.There were many roads that were inundated by the flood waters, as well as property damage to many homes.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 19, 11:05 AM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 19, 11:05 AM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG, VA 1105 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 .DISCUSSION... TROF IS BECOMING NEGATIVELY TILTED AND COLD AIR ALOFT IS HELPRING FORMATION OF TSRA W OF THE FA. WL KEEP CHC POPS THRU THE AFT FOLLOWING THE LEAD BAND OF HVY RAIN. WINDS ALONG LEADING EDGE ARE GUSTING 30-45KTS...WITH STG WINDS STAYING ABV 1500 FT. NO CHANGES TO MAX TEMPS. CONT ALL WATCHES. ZONE UPDATE OUT SOOON TO REMOVE MORNING WORDING. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY FOR ZONES NCZ001>006...NCZ018>020. VA...FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY FOR ZONES VAZ007...VAZ009>020...VAZ022>024...VAZ032>035...VAZ043>047... VAZ058>059. WV...FLOOD WATCH FOR TOODAY NIGHT FOR ZONES VZ042>045. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 19, 6:19 AM EST, 5 hours 56 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 619 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA... WESTERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA...AS WELL AS NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059- WVZ042>045-191118- ALLEGHANY VA-ALLEGHANY NC-AMHERST VA-APPOMATTOX VA-ASHE NC-BATH VA- BEDFORD VA-BLAND VA-BOTETOURT VA-BUCKINGHAM VA-CAMPBELL VA- CARROLL VA-CASWELL NC-CHARLOTTE VA-CRAIG VA-FLOYD VA-FRANKLIN VA- GILES VA-GRAYSON VA-GREENBRIER WV-HALIFAX VA-HENRY VA-MERCER WV- MONROE WV-MONTGOMERY VA-PATRICK VA-PITTSYLVANIA VA-PULASKI VA- ROANOKE VA-ROCKBRIDGE VA-ROCKINGHAM NC-SMYTH VA-STOKES NC-SUMMERS WV- SURRY NC-TAZEWELL VA-WATAUGA NC-WILKES NC-WYTHE VA-YADKIN NC- 619 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 .DAY ONE... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BE PASSING THROUGH THE REGION BY LATE AFTERNOON. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK...SPSRNK...FOR DETAILS ON THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. A FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO STILL IN EFFECT THROUGH TODAY. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST FLOOD WATCH STATEMENT...FFARNK...OR WARNINGS FOR DETAILS ON THE FLOOD THREAT. THE LATEST PRODUCTS CAN BE VIEWED ON THE WEB AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ER/RNK .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED. JJ
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Nov 19, 9:30 AM EST, 2 hours 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 930 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 NCZ004>006-VAZ017>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-191700- ALLEGHANY VA-AMHERST VA-APPOMATTOX VA-BATH VA-BEDFORD VA- BOTETOURT VA-BUCKINGHAM VA-CAMPBELL VA-CASWELL NC-CHARLOTTE VA- CRAIG VA-FLOYD VA-FRANKLIN VA-HALIFAX VA-HENRY VA-PATRICK VA- PITTSYLVANIA VA-ROANOKE VA-ROCKBRIDGE VA-ROCKINGHAM NC-STOKES NC- 940 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 ...HEAVY RAIN WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS THIS MORNING... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT OVER THE PIEDMONT THIS MORNING... AT 930 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF VERY HEAVY RAIN...WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING OFF THE BLUE RIDGE AND ONTO THE PIEDMONT OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO TWO INCHES AN HOUR THIS MORNING MAY CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS...POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODING. IN ADDITION...GUSTY WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH FROM THE SOUTHEAST WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND GUST TO AS HIGH AS 50 MPH AS THE LINE OF HEAVIEST RAIN PASSES THROUGH THE AREA. WITH RAIN SOAKED GROUND... THESE WINDS COULD BE HIGH ENOUGH TO BRING DOWN TREES IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS...RESULTING IN POWER OUTAGES. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH SOME OF THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS. THE LINE OF HEAVIEST RAIN AND STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST AT AROUND 30 MPH...REACHING THE COMMUNITIES OF DANVILLE AND BUENA VISTA BY 1030 AM EST...AND REACHING SOUTH BOSTON AND LYNCHBURG BETWEEN 1100 AM AND NOON EST. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FOR FLASH FLOODING AND SEVERE WEATHER. PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...INCLUDING CREEKS AND STREAMS OUT OF THEIR BANKS...FLOODED ROADS OR MUDSLIDES...OR WIND DAMAGE REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.2 1 5...4 3 2 4. WERT
Local storm report, Nov 19, 9:54 AM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1054 AM EDT WED NOV 19 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0959 AM COUNTY WIDE VA FLOODING
11/19/03 ALLEGHANY CREEKS AND STREAMS OUT OF
BANKS.
0959 AM BOILING SPRINGS VA FLOODING
11/19/03 ALLEGHANY CREEKS FLOODING.
0959 AM CALLAGHAN VA FLOODING
11/19/03 ALLEGHANY CREEKS FLOODING.
1012 AM COUNTY WIDE WV FLOODING
11/19/03 GREENBRIER CREEKS AND STREAMS OUT OF
BANKS.
1015 AM COUNTY WIDE WV FLOODING
11/19/03 GREENBRIER WATER RUNNING ACROSS
ROADS, SEVERAL FLOODED
BASEMENTS.
1020 AM VALLE CRUCIS NC FLOODING
11/19/03 WATAUGA WATAUGA RIVER FLOODING
AND COVERING WATAUGA
RIVER ROAD.
1030 AM COUNTY WIDE VA FLOODING
11/19/03 BLAND CREEKS OUT OF BANKS
COUNTYWIDE, WORST AREA
UPPER WOLF CREEK AND
ROUTE 614 13 ROADS
COVERED BY WATER, 7 ROADS
IMPASSABLE, SOME ROADS
HAD PAVEMENT DAMAGE.Local storm report, Nov 19, 10:00 AM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1100 AM EDT WED NOV 19 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1025 AM GRIFFITH CREEK WV FLOODING
11/19/03 SUMMERS CAR TRAPPED BY FLOODING,
RESCUE ENROUTE. REPORTED
BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.Local storm report, Nov 19, 10:39 AM EST, 1 hour 36 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1139 AM EDT WED NOV 19 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1030 AM COUNTY WIDE VA FLOODING
11/19/03 WYTHE CREEKS AND STREAMS OUT OF
BANKS, 13 ROADS CLOSED.
REPORTED BY VDOT.Special weather statement, Nov 19, 11:46 AM EST, 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1146 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 NCZ001>006-018>020-191800- ALLEGHANY NC-ASHE-CASWELL-ROCKINGHAM-STOKES-SURRY-WATAUGA-WILKES- YADKIN- 1146 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR NORTH CAROLINA CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELLED THE TORNADO WATCH THAT COVERED NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. A TORNADO WATCH IS STILL IN EFFECT UNTIL 3:00 PM FOR THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FOR FLASH FLOODING AND SEVERE WEATHER. PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...INCLUDING CREEKS AND STREAMS OUT OF THEIR BANKS...FLOODED ROADS OR MUDSLIDES...OR WIND DAMAGE REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.2 1 5...4 3 2 4. AMS
Special weather statement, Nov 19, 11:58 AM EST, 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1158 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-191800- AMHERST-APPOMATTOX-BEDFORD-BOTETOURT-BUCKINGHAM-CAMPBELL-CHARLOTTE- FRANKLIN-HALIFAX-HENRY-PATRICK-PITTSYLVANIA-ROANOKE-ROCKBRIDGE- 1158 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELLED THE TORNADO WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA INTO SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. A LINE OF STRONG SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAS MOVED EAST OF THE AREA AND NO LONGER POSES A SEVERE THREAT TO SOUTHWEST INTO SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. WERT
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flood in Maryland, November 19, 2003
- Flooding in West Virginia, November 19 to 20, 2003
- Flooding in Virginia, November 19 to 20, 2003
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Virginia, November 19 to 20, 2003
- Flood in Virginia, November 19 to 20, 2003
- Flash Flooding in West Virginia, November 19, 2003
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in North Carolina, November 19 to 20, 2003
- Flooding in Virginia, November 19 to 20, 2003
- High Wind in Washington, November 19, 2003
- Flash Flood in Pennsylvania, November 19 to 20, 2003
- Strong Wind in Pennsylvania, November 19, 2003
- Heavy Snow in Washington, November 19, 2003
More
Every storm in Virginia in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, November 2003
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: 5329229.