A deep long wave trough developed over the western states around January 10th. The trough gradually moved east over a period of several days.
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 GSP wrote it up.
A deep long wave trough developed over the western states around January 10th. The trough gradually moved east over a period of several days. As it approached the eastern states, it took on a positive tilt, with the surface cold front stalling across the south Appalachians for several days. Heavy rain periodically fell from late on the 13th through the evening hours of the 17th. The trough eventually filled, but not before a trailing southern stream upper low brought a last shot of heavy rain to the region during the overnight hours over the 17th. The rain changed to snow in some areas before ending. Perceptible water (PW) amounts were upwards of 300 percent of normal. In fact, PW readings at Atlanta and Greensboro were among the highest on record for January. Over a four day period, rainfall amounts ranged from 4 to 10 inches across the southern Appalachians. The heaviest totals were recorded across the southwest mountains, including the Smokies, Snowbird and Nantahala Mountains. Several automated rain gauges recorded 8 to 10 inches of rain in the headwaters of the Nantahala and Oconaluftee Rivers. The prolonged heavy rain resulted is several landslides across the North Carolina mountains. Roads and homes were damaged by these debris flows. While several instances of stream and main-stem river flooding were reported, the prolonged nature of the rainfall kept the flooding from becoming more extensive or damaging than it otherwise would have been.
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:02 UTC.
9 flood, 3 debris flow, 2 heavy rain, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A culvert backed up, causing a sink hole to develop under 6 mobile homes along Water Street in Bryson City. The mobile homes were subsequently condemned.
Video showed about 12 inches of fast moving water flowing across a low bridge over Springwood Lake Road where it meets Long Creek Road. However, the water was in its channel below the bridge and it appeared that debris had blocked the channel, causing the flooding. County Communications reported a few other private bridges also had water over them that afternoon in the Robbinsville area.
Prolonged moderate to heavy rain caused Richland Creek to leave its banks and flood some local roads in the Waynesville area, including Water Street off of Dellwood Road. Water was up to the foundations of a couple buildings at this location. The creek also flooded the Frisbee golf course at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Tri Lakes Drive was flooded by Jonathan Creek near Maggie Valley. A couple small mudslides were also reported in the Maggie Valley area.
The Tuckasegee River flooded Bear Hunter Campground in Bryson City. The trailers of several year-round residents of the campground had to be moved to higher ground. A motorist had to abandon their car after they drove into flood waters on Old River Road. East Deep Creek Circle and Island Street were also flooded by the river.
Flooded locations in and near the Cherokee Indian reservation included the Parkwary entrance (US441), the Saunooke Bridge, which connects Big Cove Road to Newfound Gap Road, Meetinghouse Road and Whitewater Drive. Big Cove Road was also flooded in the Piney Grove area along Rabun Fork. Mt. Noble Road was damaged by mudslide. Oconaluftee Island Park was flooded for a while by the Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, though damage to the park was minimal. Several roads were damaged by flash flooding and landslides, resulting in a federal disaster declaration.
Old Number 4 Road was flooded in the extreme northern part of Jackson County.
Scott Creek left its banks and flooded areas around Sylva, including the bridge over Helmock Street on the east side of town. A couple private bridges were also flooded by the creek near Sylva. The Tuckasegee River flooded a low spot along Mockingbird Lane.
A landslide heavily damaged a garage at a residence near the Jackson County line.
A landslide carried away and damaged a vehicle on Long Branch Rd.
Burningtown Creek flooded Middle Burningtown Road in several spots during the early morning hours of the 16th. One vehicle become stuck in flood waters and had to be pulled out.
A large landslide destroyed a 200 foot section of highway 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was estimated the road would take months to repair, thus indefinitely shutting down the Park's only paved throroughfare. Seven to 10 inches of rain fell across the North Carolina section of the park from the 14th through the 17th.
Heavy rain caused Mud Creek to leave it’s banks, flooding parts of E Caswell St and South Grove St.
Heavy rain caused Bat Fork Creek to leave its banks, flooding New Hope Road and Airport Road on the east side of Hendersonville.
The middle reaches of the French Broad River in Henderson County remained in flood for around 2 days as runoff from heavy rain worked it's way through the river system. This resulted in flooded roads and bottom land close to the river.
The middle reaches of the French Broad River in Transylvania County remained in flood for around 2 days as runoff from heavy rain worked it's way through the river system. This resulted in flooded roads and bottom land close to the river.
The Little Tennessee River flooded Needmore Rd in spots near the Macon County line. The road was closed for several hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, January 2013
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: 431853, 431854, 431860, 431911, 431923, 431928, 431864, 431933, 431939, 431930, 431945, 432039, 432040, 432513, 432538, 432041.