The remnants of Tropical Storm Fay moved slowly up the west side of the Appalachian mountains and interacted with a frontal boundary just to our south. Some upslope enhancement occurred allowing 5-10 inches of rain to fall.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Fay moved slowly up the west side of the Appalachian mountains and interacted with a frontal boundary just to our south. Some upslope enhancement occurred allowing 5-10 inches of rain to fall. The heavier rains caused flash flooding over portions of northwest North Carolina.
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 Aug 26, 11:30 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1230 AM EDT WED AUG 27 2008 .SYNOPSIS... THE REMNANTS OF FAY WILL LIFT SLOWLY NORTHEAST INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY OVERNIGHT...AND THEN INTO EASTERN KENTUCKY BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THIS WILL WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD RAINFALL...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE BLUE RIDGE. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/... RAIN CONTINUES TO MIGRATE NORTHEAST AND HAS OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE CWA SO ZONE FORECAST WILL BE UPDATED TO REFRESH WORDING. CONCERN FOR HEAVY RAINFALL OVERNIGHT IS OVER THE SOUTHWEST PART OF THE CWA...ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE. THERE IS A SFC FRONT THAT HAS PUSHED SOUTH AND WEST OF THE CWA...AND A STRONG WEDGE HAS DEVELOPED IN THE PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS OF SW VA. THIS WILL TEND TO KEEP THE HEAVIER RAIN CONFINED TO OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES TONIGHT. WINDS WILL INCREASE ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPES TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AS A STRONG SOUTHEAST CROSS BARRIER FLOW DEVELOPS. BLUEFIELD TO MOUNT ROGERS AND WEST OF MOUNTAIN EMPIRE INCLUDING TAZEWELL WILL LIKELY SEE A PERIOD OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WIND AND ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY IF NEEDED. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/... AN EXPANSION OF THE FLOOD WATCH TO ENCOMPASS AREAS FARTHER NORTH MAY BE NEEDED FOR WEDNESDAY PENDING PROGRESSION OF HEAVY RAINFALL. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS THREAT AND ACT ACCORDINGLY. LOOKING INTO THE DAY WEDNESDAY...ANOTHER CONCERN WILL BE THE SEVERE POTENTIAL. LOW-LEVEL WIND FIELDS WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN DURING THE DAY AS THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION FAY LIFT NNEWD. HOWEVER...THE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN QUITE MOIST FROM VICINITY OF SYSTEM CENTER ESEWD ALONG AND S OF ATTENDANT FRONTAL BOUNDARY WHICH WILL BE SLOWLY LIFTING NWD ACROSS NC/VA. VERTICAL SHEAR WILL NOT BE PARTICULARLY STRONG...BUT FORECAST HODOGRAPHS DO INDICATE CONSIDERABLE VEERING THROUGH THE LOWEST 2-3 KM AGL. THIS COMBINED WITH THE MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER AND POCKETS OF MODERATE INSTABILITY MAY BE SUPPORTIVE OF MARGINAL SUPERCELL STRUCTURES CAPABLE OF A BRIEF TORNADO OR TWO IN ADDITION TO LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS. THE TIMING OF FAY MOVING FROM THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND INTO THE OHIO VALLEY WILL PLAY A BIG PART IN DETERMINING STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS. MODELS MAY BE A TAD TO FAST WITH FAYS MOVEMENT INTO THE OHIO VALLEY WITH HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHEAST SLOWING HER PROGRESSION. THE STRONGEST ISENTROPIC LIFT AND SOUTHEASTERLY UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD BE OVER THE SOUTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY BY WEDNESDAY EVENING AND TRACK TO THE NORTH OVERNIGHT. THE VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS AND SOUTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY COULD SEE AN ADDITION INCH OF RAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY ALONG EASTERN SLOPES. AREAS SOUTH WILL REMAIN IN SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW BUT RAINFALL INTENSITIES WILL NOT BE AS GREAT BUT CONTINUOUS LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN IS POSSIBLE. ON THURSDAY...FAYS MOISTURE INFLUENCE MAY BE COMING TO AN END WITH DRY SLOT ENTERING SW VA BY THE AFTERNOON. STILL SOME WEAK SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW TO KEEP LIKELY POPS IN THE FORECAST...ESPECIALLY NE CWA. WILL ALSO MAINTAIN SOME LOW POPS THURSDAY NIGHT WITH TIMING ISSUES. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... WEAK HIGH PRESSURE TO MOVE INTO THE REGION IN THE WAKE OF FAY ON FRIDAY. INCREASING HEIGHTS WILL ALSO BRING MODERATING TEMPERATURES INTO THE REGION. PRECIP CHANCES WILL BE LIMITED TO A WEAK FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA OVER THE WEEKEND. ECMWF SHOWING SOME LIGHT SCATTERED CONVECTION SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THE GFS A LITTLE SLOWER AND STALLS THE FRONT ALONG THE NC/VA BORDER...KEEPING LOW CHANCE POPS IN THE AREA THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. WITH LOW CONFIDENCE...WILL KEEP POPS LOW AND CLOSE TO HPC GRIDS. && .AVIATION /06Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... POOR AVIATION CONDITIONS WIL PREVAIL MOST OF THIS PERIOD AS RAINS AND THE REMNANTS OF FAY DROP CIGS/VSBYS TO SUB MVFR. THE RAINS GOING TO BE HEAVY AT TIMES...BUT PREDOMINANTLY SHOULD BE LIGHT TO MODERATE. THE SURFACE WEDGE WILL KEEP WINDS NEAR/AT THE SFC UNDER 12-15 KNOTS...WHILE ABOUT 1-2KFT AGL...EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS PICK UP IN THE 25-35 KNOT RANGE. THIS IS WILL KEEP LOW LVL WIND SHEAR CONDITIONS AT ALL SITES TONIGHT INTO EARLY WED MORNING BEFORE THE WEDGE BREAKS...AND WINDS SUBSIDE ALOFT SOMEWHAT. POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR IMPROVING CONDITIONS DOWN TOWARD DAN AND MAYBE BLF WED AFTN. KEEPING IT MORE PESSIMISTIC IN TERMS OF CIGS ATTM. HOWEVER...THUNDERSTORMS COULD FIRE UP IF WE SEE SOME SUNSHINE AND THE FRONT MOVING TO OUR NORTH. FOR WED NIGHT INTO THURSDAY...THE MAJORITY OF THE HEAVY RAINS LIFT NORTHEAST BUT RESIDUAL MOISTURE WILL KEEP CIGS SUB-VFR...WITH IMPROVING CONDITIONS TOWARD THU AFTN. && .HYDROLOGY... CURRENT FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE SW MOUNTAINS LOOKS GOOD. RAINFALL HAS BEEN MODERATE...WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS SOUTH OF BOONE. STREAMS ARE RISING WITH REPORTS OF 1 TO 2 FOOT RISES ALONG THE SOUTH FORK OF THE NEW RIVER NEAR BOONE NC. A LOW WATER CROSSING HAS BEEN CLOSED DUE TO RISING WATER IN THAT AREA. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR RADAR TRENDS AND MODELS FOR ANY CHANGES TO THE ONGOING WATCH...OR WHETHER TO EXPAND IT FURTHER NORTH. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY FOR VAZ015-016-032. NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY FOR NCZ001>003-018-019. WV...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...PM NEAR TERM...AMS/PM SHORT TERM...RCS LONG TERM...RCS AVIATION...JJ/WP HYDROLOGY...PC
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 403 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008 VAZ007-009>014-017>020-022>024-033>035-WVZ042>045-272015- TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-FLOYD-CRAIG- ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD- AMHERST-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER- 403 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. RAIN IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA TONIGHT...AND WILL GET HEAVY AT TIMES AFTER MIDNIGHT. ISOLATED AREAS COULD SEE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...THAT COULD CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF STREAMS AND CREEKS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. RAIN WILL PERSIST WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL. THIS COULD CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF STREAMS AND CREEKS. WITH THE REMNANTS OF FAY MOVING NORTH ALONG WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...WITH SOME POTENTIALLY BECOMING SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS OR ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED WEDNESDAY FOR FLOODING AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. NCZ001>003-018-019-VAZ015-016-032-272015- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-WATAUGA-WILKES-GRAYSON-CARROLL-PATRICK- 403 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH. IN ADDITION...WITH THE REMNANTS OF FAY MOVING NORTH ALONG WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...WITH SOME POTENTIALLY BECOMING SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS OR ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOR FLOODING AND SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL. NCZ004>006-020-VAZ043>047-058-059-272015- STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-YADKIN-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL- APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 403 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES...CAN BE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...WHICH COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS. WITH THE REMNANTS OF FAY MOVING NORTH ALONG WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...WITH SOME POTENTIALLY BECOMING SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS OR ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED WEDNESDAY FOR FLOODING AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 930 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008 NCZ018-270330- WATAUGA- INCLUDING THE CITY OF...BOONE 930 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008 ...MORE HEAVIER SHOWERS EXPECTED INTO OVERNIGHT... ANYWHERE FROM ONE AND A HALF TO JUST OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN WATAUGA COUNTY SINCE TUESDAY MORNING. ANOTHER BAND OF RAIN...WITH EMBEDDED HEAVIER SHOWERS...IS GOING TO PUSH THROUGH THE COUNTY THROUGH EARLY MORNING. ANOTHER THREE QUARTERS TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE ANTICIPATED. COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS AT THE BOONE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT INDICATED SOME LOW WATER CROSSINGS...BEING FLOODED. THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY CAUSE MORE STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE...AND AFFECT OTHER LOW WATER CROSSINGS IN THE COUNTY. RESIDENTS OF WATAUGA COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR WATER LEVELS...ESPECIALLY IF LIVING NEAR STREAMS AND CREEKS.
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 148 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:22 UTC.
7 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Big Branch flooded a portion of Highway 105 near Foscoe.
Lost Branch flooded and the waters rose to cover the Dewitt Barnett Road Bridge.
The Watauga River overflowed its banks, flooding portions of Watauga River Road.
Roaring River flooded portions of Cotton Mill Road.
Naked Creek flooded a portion of Mt. Pleasant Road.
Portions of Mt. Zion Road were flooded by Meadow Branch and Mill Creek.
Wolf Island Creek flooded Harrison Street in Reidsville causing the street to be closed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, August 2008
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: 132071, 132083, 132084, 132085, 132086, 132087, 132088.