North Carolina, 2010

Flash Flooding in North Carolina, January 24 to 25, 2010

January 24 to 25, 2010 · NWS RNK · 13 events in 7 counties and zones

Abundant rain advanced north into the region in advance of an area of low pressure to the west while a frontal boundary remained draped over the region. An average of 2 to 5 inches of rain fell from this system onto an already saturated ground from recent snow melt and rainfall.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$227,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
13

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.

Abundant rain advanced north into the region in advance of an area of low pressure to the west while a frontal boundary remained draped over the region. An average of 2 to 5 inches of rain fell from this system onto an already saturated ground from recent snow melt and rainfall. The heavy rain contributed to widespread flash flooding, mudslides, areal flooding, and river flooding.

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 Jan 24, 6:10 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 24, 6:10 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
610 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL SWING EAST OVER THE REGION TONIGHT WITH HEAVY
RAINS EXPECTED. A RETURN TO COLDER AIR CAN BE EXPECTED MONDAY INTO
MIDWEEK WITH SNOW SHOWERS ALONG THE MOUNTAINS.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
UPDATING TO EXTEND THE GOING HIGH WIND AND WIND ADVISORIES THRU
MIDNIGHT GIVEN RECENT GUSTS ABOVE 60 MPH IN TAZEWELL CTY. ALSO
SOME POTENTIAL AS THE HEAVIER RAIN MOVES THRU TO MIX DOWN A FEW
HIGHER GUSTS TO THE RIDGES AS THE WEDGE WEAKENS A BIT THIS
EVENING. OTRW NO ADDED CHANGES FOR NOW. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION BELOW...

KEEPING THE HIGH WIND WARNING/ADVISORY GOING TIL 6 PM...WITH THE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 AM. THE RAIN HAS BEEN SLOWER TO ARRIVE
AS LOW PRESSURE WAVE FORMED ALONG THE FRONT IN THE GULF COASTAL
STATES. GETTING MAINLY SE FLOW UPSLOPE RAIN ATTM...WITH
FRONTAL/UPPER FORCING RAIN SHIELD SITUATED FROM OHIO SOUTH TO
GA/AL. STILL LOOKING AT HIGH AMOUNTS OF RAIN...MAINLY IN THE 00Z-
09Z TIME FRAME. ATTM...CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS SPREADING NWD SHOULD
ENHANCE THE SHOWERS AND FLASH FLOOD THREAT...ALTHOUGH MOST OF A
THUNDERSTORM CHANCE WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF US. STILL HAVE ISOLATED
THUNDER IN OVER THE SOUTH AND EAST TONIGHT. ANOTHER CONCERN ARE
THE WINDS. CURRENTLY OUTSIDE THE WEDGE...THE WINDS HAVE NOT GUSTED
AS MUCH AS EARLIER IN THE DAY. MODELS SHOWING S TO SSE LOW LVL JET
REMAINING INTO THE EVENING AND THIS CONCERNS ME. FOR NOW THINK
WILL HANDLE ANY POST WIND PROBLEMS WITH SPECIAL WX STATEMENTS AND
POSSIBLE SVR WARNINGS IF CONVECTION ENHANCES UP THIS WAY.

AS THE MAIN THRUST OF THE FRONT SLIDES EAST TONIGHT...LOOK FOR
WINDS TO SWITCH TO THE SW. MODELS BRINGING COLDER AIR IN FROM THE
SW LATE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY. THE WEDGE IN PLACE NOW WILL BE ERODED
ONCE THE HEAVIER SHOWERS ARRIVE BRINGING DOWN WARMER AIR ALOFT.
THIS KEEPS THE TEMP FORECAST TRICKY...AND COULD SEE RISING TEMPS
OVERNIGHT IN THE REGION. FOLLOWED A NON-DIURNAL CURVE TO THE TEMPS
AS STEADY TO RISING TEMPS TONIGHT ARE FOLLOWED BY STEADY TO
FALLING TEMPS IN THE WEST TOMORROW.

ON MONDAY...RAIN SHOWERS WILL EXIT TO THE EAST WITH WRAP-AROUND
WESTERLY FLOW SHOWERS PUSHING INTO THE MTNS. WITH A WEST FLOW...DO
NOT FORESEE MUCH IN THE WAY OF AMOUNTS...WITH SOME SNOW MAKING IT
INTO THE HIGHER TERRAIN. ALSO AT ISSUE TOMORROW...THE PRESSURE
RISES BEHIND THIS MAIN SYSTEM ARE IN THE 4 TO 6 MB RANGE IN 6
HOURS...ALTHOUGH THE 8H WINDS ARE MARGINAL FOR ADVISORY.
HOWEVER...WITH A WET GROUND FROM THE RAINS...POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR
WINDS GUSTING OVER 35 MPH TO PUSH WEAKER OR DEAD TREES OVER. FOR
NOW...WILL MENTION THIS IN THE HWO...AND LET THE NEXT SHIFT
EVALUATE THIS THREAT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
THE COLD FRONT WILL BE PUSHING WELL OFFSHORE MONDAY NIGHT BUT
RESIDUAL MOISTURE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE LOW WILL IMPACT THE
FAVORABLE UPSLOPE REGIONS. WINDS WILL BE VEERING TOWARD THE WEST AND
NORTHWEST ENHANCING THE UPSLOPE COMPONENT FROM SOUTHEAST WEST
VIRGINIA SOUTH INTO THE MOUNTAIN EMPIRE OF VIRGINIA. BUFKIT
SOUNDINGS ARE CONSISTENTLY SHOWING DRY AIR ALOFT WITH ONLY A SHALLOW
LAYER OF MOISTURE...THUS PRECIPITATION SHOULD REMAIN FAIRLY LIGHT.
HOWEVER...AS FAR AS SNOW ACCUMULATION GOES...HPC GUIDANCE SUGGESTS 1
TO 2 INCHES WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS IN THE GREENBRIER AREA. THESE
UPSLOPE SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY NIGHT.
HAVE STAYED CLOSE TO THE ECMWF FOR POPS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL FILTER INTO THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT AS 850H
TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW 0 DEGREES C ONCE AGAIN. SOUNDING PROFILES
SUGGEST PRECIPITATION TO BE MAINLY LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS OVERNIGHT.
THEN EXPECT A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS JUST WEST ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE WHERE MAX TEMPERATURES
WILL RISE ABOVE FREEZING. IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...TEMPERATURES
WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH FREEZING TUESDAY AS COLDER AIR CONTINUES TO
ADVECT IN THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT.

850H WINDS WILL SUBSIDE TUESDAY MORNING AND HAVE MAINTAINED GUSTS
30 TO 40 MPH OVERNIGHT MONDAY...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE RIDGES OF THE
NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS.

RIDGING AT THE SURFACE ALONG WITH ZONAL FLOW ALOFT WILL GIVE WAY TO
DRIER WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR TO BELOW SEASONAL NORMS.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
A SURFACE LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES WITH A COLD FRONT EXTENDING
SOUTHWEST TO A SURFACE LOW OVER TEXAS WILL APPROACH THE AREA
THURSDAY. THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE AREA BY FRIDAY INTO
SATURDAY. LEANED TOWARD A BLEND OF THE LATEST GFS/00Z ECMWF SOLUTION
FOR THE WEEKEND. EVEN THOUGH THE LATEST RUNS OF THESE MODELS ARE
QUITE SIMILAR...THERE CONTINUES TO BE SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE
LOCATION AS IT IS NEAR THE END OF THE EXTENDED. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH
THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER IS FURTHER SOUTH IN THIS LATEST RUN THAN IN
PREVIOUS RUNS. DEPENDING ON THE TRACK OF THE SOUTHERN STREAM LOW AND
THE TIMING OF THE COLD AIR ADVECTING INTO THE AREA...THE FORECAST
AREA COULD SEE SOME DECENT SNOW AND/OR POSSIBLY A WINTRY MIX
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM. AT THIS TIME...MAINTAINED THE MENTION
OF RAIN AND/OR SNOW.

TEMPERATURES WILL LOWER TO BELOW SEASONAL NORMS BY LATE WEEK AND
LASTING THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
SEE EQUIPMENT SECTION ABOUT CEILOMETER MALFUNCTIONS AT LYH AND BLF.

CIGS/VSBYS WILL BE FLUCTUATING FROM IFR TO LIFR AND EVEN
LOWER...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE MOUNTAINS WHICH COULD IMPACT LYH/BLF/ROA
THE MOST. THIS WILL MAKE FOR WIDESPREAD MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION IN
LOW CLOUDS AND RAINFALL THRU MUCH OF THE NIGHT. LOW LVL WIND
SHEAR WILL REMAIN AS WELL INTO THE LATE EVENING UNTIL THE LOW LVL
WINDS VEER TO THE SOUTHWEST AND MIXING OCCURS IN THE MTNS AS THE
COLD FRONT PASSES THRU. LOOK FOR THE STRONGEST WINDS AT THE SFC IN
BLF UNTIL THEN. RAIN IS EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY AT TIMES THRU THE
EVENING AT BLF AND ELSEWHERE THROUGH THE LATE EVENING AND EARLY
MORNING HOURS OUT EAST. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES ARE SMALL AS BEST
INSTABILITY STAYS SOUTH BUT CANNOT RULE OUT SOME CONVECTIVE ISSUES
SOUTH OF DANVILLE AND BLF THRU ABOUT MIDNIGHT.

LOOKS LIKE THE COLD FRONT WILL PASS ACROSS THE FAR WEST JUST AFTER
MIDNIGHT...REACHING THE BLUE RIDGE BY 12Z AND OVER THE EAST BY
MIDDAY MONDAY. THIS SHOULD BRING ABOUT IMPROVING CONDITIONS WITH A
GRADUAL RAISING OF CIGS TO MVFR BEHIND THE FRONT MONDAY MORNING
AND PERHAPS A PERIOD OF VFR IN THE EAST DURING THE AFTERNOO.
HOWEVER WESTERLY WINDS WILL BE GUSTY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH GUSTS
TO 25-30 KTS LIKELY AT MANY LOCATIONS THRU LATE MONDAY.

BEYOND THIS PERIOND...AS WINDS SHIFT TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST
LOOKING AT CIGS REMAIN IN THE MVFR RANGE IN SE WV MAYBE VFR AT
LWB. POTENTIAL FOR IFR AT BLF EXISTS MON NIGHT AS NW FLOW
INCREASES EVEN MORE WITH SNOW SHOWERS POSSIBLE.

MVFR TO OCCASIONAL IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND WEST OF
THE BLUE RIDGE INTO TUESDAY...WITH UPSLOPE SNOW SHOWERS POSSIBLE.
HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD BRING A RETURN OF VFR TO ALL LOCATIONS WED
INTO THU. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY BRING A RETURN TO MVFR IN LOWER
CLOUDS AND PRECIP LATER THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
FLOOD WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AT FORECAST POINTS IN MANY OF OUR
RIVER BASINS...INCLUDING THE DAN...ROANOKE...JAMES...YADKIN AND
GREENBRIER. QPF IN THE HYDROLOGIC MODELS RANGES FROM 1 TO NEARLY 3
INCHES WHICH IS A BASIN AVERAGE AMOUNT. THESE RIVER FORECASTS ARE
ALMOST ENTIRELY QPF-BASED WHICH GIVES SIGNIFICANTLY LESS
CONFIDENCE IN THE FORECASTS THAN ONES BASED ON RAIN THAT HAS
ALREADY FALLEN. AT THIS POINT NO FORECAST POINT IS EXPECTED TO
REACH MAJOR FLOOD STAGE BUT MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST...ON
PARTS OF THE JAMES AND LOWER DAN. IF THE RAIN FALLS SHORT THE
CRESTS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER OR OF COURSE HIGHER IF THE QPF
IS EXCEEDED.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AS
SOILS ARE PRETTY SATURATED AND HEAVIER RAINS COULD CAUSE SMALL STREAM
FLOODING AS WELL.

ALSO...THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE BUCK DAM AREA AND POINTS
DOWNSTREAM WILL REMAIN AS IS THROUGH 600 PM MONDAY
ICE BUILDUP AT THE BUCK DAM ON THE NEW RIVER IN CARROLL COUNTY
HAS BROKEN OUT SEVERAL OF THE WOODEN FLASH BOARDS THAT ARE USED TO
CONTROL EMERGENCY RELEASES OF WATER FROM THE DAM. UNTIL THESE
FLASH BOARDS ARE REPLACED...THERE IS NO WAY TO FULLY REGULATE THE
AMOUNT OF INFLOW AND OUTFLOW FROM THE DAM.

RESIDUAL ICE PUSHING UP AGAINST REMAINING FLASH BOARDS MAY RESULT
IN ADDITIONAL FLASH BOARD FAILURES...WHICH WOULD FURTHER INCREASE
DISCHARGE DOWNSTREAM FROM THE DAM...CAUSING SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL
RISES ALONG THE NEW RIVER DOWNSTREAM FROM THE DAM TO CLAYTOR LAKE.

&&

.EQUIPMENT...
MALFUNCTION OF THE NEW CEILOMETERS AT ROA...LYH...AND BLF HAS BEEN
REPORTED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN REGION. THE CEILING
HEIGHT AT ROA IS BEING CORRECTED BY THE ON SITE OBSERVER. THE
CEILING AT BLF WILL NOT BE REPORTED OVERNIGHT. THE CEILING AT LYH
MAY NOT BE REPRESENTATIVE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WHEN THE
CONTROL TOWER IS CLOSED.

ALSO...NOT GETTING ANY DATA AT THE DANVILLE RIVER GAGE SINCE EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING. USGS IS AWARE OF THIS...BUT AT THE MOMENT PLANS
ARE NOT FOR A FIX TO IT UNTIL MONDAY OR TUESDAY. CITY OF DANVILLE
EMPLOYEES WILL BE USING A BACKUP GAGE IN ITS PLACE AND CALLING
THIS IN TO US.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR VAZ007-009>011-014-
     015-017>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR VAZ010-012.
     FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR VAZ012-013-016.
     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR VAZ007-009-
     015.
NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR NCZ001>006-018>020.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR NCZ001-018.
WV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR WVZ042>045.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR WVZ043.
     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR WVZ042-045.

&&

SYNOPSIS...AMS/WP
NEAR TERM...AMS/JH/WP
SHORT TERM...REB
LONG TERM...REB
AVIATION...AMS/JH/WP
HYDROLOGY...
EQUIPMENT...
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 24, 4:57 PM EST, 3 hours 3 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
457 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

VAZ012-252200-
WYTHE-
457 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...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.
   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ001-018-VAZ010-WVZ043-252200-
ASHE-WATAUGA-BLAND-SUMMERS-
457 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...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.
   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

WEST WINDS MONDAY MAY GUST UP TO 35 TO 40 MPH IN THE MOUNTAINS.
WITH A SATURATED GROUND...THIS MAY CAUSE SOME SMALL OR DEAD TREES
TO FALL. A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA
MOUNTAINS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

VAZ007-009-015-WVZ042-045-252200-
TAZEWELL-SMYTH-GRAYSON-MERCER-GREENBRIER-
457 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.
   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

VAZ013-016-252200-
PULASKI-CARROLL-
457 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...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...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

VAZ011-018>020-WVZ044-252200-
GILES-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-MONROE-
457 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST
CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...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...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ002>006-019-020-VAZ014-017-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-252200-
ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WILKES-YADKIN-
MONTGOMERY-FLOYD-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-
BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-
HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-
457 PM EST SUN JAN 24 2010

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH
CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...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...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Surry

When
January 24, 8:00 PM EST to January 25, 2:56 AM EST
Where
Surry County, 1.15 mi NNW of Toast to 0.19 mi SW of Westfield
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.516, -80.634

Approximately 20 roads were closed across Surry County with closures beginning in and around Mt. Airy. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Watauga

When
January 24, 8:20 PM EST to January 25, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Watauga County, 1.2 mi S of Perkinsville to 1.16 mi S of Perkinsville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.203, -81.670

Kraut Creek left its banks and flooded the Boone Mall parking lot. Two cars were stranded. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Ashe

When
January 24, 8:23 PM EST to 8:28 PM EST
Where
Ashe County, 0.48 mi SE of Warrensville to 0.58 mi S of Warrensville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.465, -81.514

Heavy rains on steep terrain prompted a Mudslide on Highway 194N in Warrensville. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Wilkes

When
January 24, 8:45 PM EST to 8:50 PM EST
Where
Wilkes County, 1.61 mi WNW of Mulberry to 1.58 mi WNW of Mulberry
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.255, -81.198

Flash flooding helped to produce a small debris flow on Highway 18 near the community of Mulberry. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Wilkes

When
January 24, 8:45 PM EST to January 25, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Wilkes County, 0.94 mi WSW of Roaring River to 0.88 mi SW of Roaring River
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.213, -81.015

Flash flooding caused the Cotton Mill Road bridge to be under water. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Yadkin

When
January 24, 10:45 PM EST to January 25, 2:56 AM EST
Where
Yadkin County, 0.76 mi E of Yadkinville to 0.83 mi E of Yadkinville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.130, -80.656

Heavy rains caused flash flooding on South Van Buren Street. The road was under four feet of water. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Stokes

When
January 24, 11:00 PM EST to January 25, 4:15 AM EST
Where
Stokes County, 2.46 mi W of Pinnacle to 2.36 mi WNW of Pinnacle
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.336, -80.444

Heavy rain prompted flash flooding of small streams and creeks in and around Pinnacle. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Stokes

When
January 24, 11:00 PM EST to January 25, 4:15 AM EST
Where
Stokes County, 1.01 mi NNE of Francisco to 1.09 mi NE of Francisco
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.513, -80.362

Heavy rain prompted flash flooding of small streams and creeks in and around Francisco. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Watauga

When
January 25, 12:00 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Watauga County, 0.64 mi W of Valle Crucis to 0.46 mi WSW of Valle Crucis
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
36.221, -81.791

The Watauga River Road was closed due to flash flood waters. Several other low water crossings across Watauga County were closed due to flash flood waters. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Rockingham

When
January 25, 3:44 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 0.81 mi ENE of Madison to 1.02 mi ENE of Madison
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.386, -79.957

Flash flooding caused four streets to be flooded in Madison including Water Street and Hunter Street. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Rockingham

When
January 25, 3:44 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 1.28 mi WSW of Stoneville to 1.19 mi WSW of Stoneville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.465, -79.922

Flash flooding caused flowing water to cross Highway 770. The road was closed. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Rockingham

When
January 25, 3:44 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 0.56 mi E of Oregon Hill to 0.78 mi NE of Oregon Hill
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.450, -79.640

Heavy rain prompted a flash flood that closed a portion of Oregon Hill Road. Damage values are estimated.

Flash Flood, Rockingham

When
January 25, 3:44 AM EST to 6:00 AM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 1.77 mi SE of Harrisons Xrds to 1.54 mi W of Pennrington
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.410, -79.660

Flash flooding caused Wolf Island Road to be closed due to flowing water. There were two locations in Rockingham County where swift water rescues were needed. Damage values are estimated.

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

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, January 2010

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 213081, 212929, 213077, 212955, 212982, 213080, 213116, 213118, 212951, 213187, 213188, 213200, 213203.