North Carolina, 2013Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, July 17, 2013
July 17, 2013 · NWS RNK · 6 events in 2 counties and zones
The area remained in a warm and humid air mass with afternoon thunderstorms developing rather easily. Most of the storms remained below severe criteria but a few were able to generate enough downburst wind speed for some tree damage.
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
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Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $26,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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 area remained in a warm and humid air mass with afternoon thunderstorms developing rather easily. Most of the storms remained below severe criteria but a few were able to generate enough downburst wind speed for some tree damage. Heavy rainfall also accompanied the storms along with some minor 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 Jul 17, 11:59 AM EST, 31 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 11:59 AM EST, 31 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 2:38 AM EST, 9 hours 52 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 17, 7:51 AM EST, 4 hours 39 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, Jul 17, 11:35 AM EST, 55 minutes before
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</html>Event by event
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Surry
- When
- July 17, 12:30 PM EST
- Where
- Surry County, 0.56 mi E of Mt Airy
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 36.500, -80.610
Multiple trees were blown down and street flooding reported in Mount Airy.
Flash Flood, Surry
- When
- July 17, 1:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
- Where
- Surry County, 0.48 mi WNW of Flat Rock to 0.41 mi NNW of Flat Rock
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 36.503, -80.558
A water rescue from a home was reported along Faulkner Creek east of Mount Airy after heavy rains caused flash flooding on the creek. Another home was also damaged by flooding. Numerous roads were closed by flood waters at the height of the storm that produced 4.50 inches in 90 minutes in an unofficial rain gage. Doppler radar rainfall estimates confirmed a 4 to 5 inch rainfall maximum just east of Mount Airy. The COOP site town (MTAN7) received only 1.49 from the storm.
Thunderstorm Wind, Watauga
- When
- July 17, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Watauga County, 0.69 mi S of Rutherwood
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $600
- Reported by
- Post Office
- Coordinates
- 36.220, -81.600
A few trees were blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Watauga
- When
- July 17, 7:15 PM EST
- Where
- Watauga County, 0.69 mi S of Rutherwood
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 36.220, -81.600
An estimated wind gust of 60 MPH was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Watauga
- When
- July 17, 7:17 PM EST
- Where
- Watauga County, 2.22 mi S of Shulls Mills to 0.49 mi SSE of Perkinsville
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.148, -81.738
There were several reports of downed trees including a tree that fell onto wires in the Wilson Ridge area, and a few trees down on White Laurel Road and Elk Creek Road.
Lightning, Watauga
- When
- July 17, 10:00 PM EST
- Where
- Watauga County, Valle Crucis
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 36.220, -81.780
Lightning struck a church which sustained minor damage and a tree was exploded adjacent to the church. A propane line and fuse boxes in the church were damaged.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- 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.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Rip Current in Michigan, July 17, 20131 death · 1 event
- Heat in Wisconsin, July 17 to 19, 20131 death · 1 event
- Flash Flood and Hail in Georgia, July 17, 2013$5.3 million · 1.75 in hail · 26 events
- Flash Flood and Hail in South Carolina, July 17, 2013$1.1 million · 1.5 in hail · 23 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, July 17, 2013$304,000 · 1.75 in hail · 22 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Pennsylvania, July 17, 2013$465,000 · 1 in hail · 12 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Montana, July 17, 20138 injured · 1.25 in hail · 8 events
- Damaging Winds in Vermont, July 17, 2013$120,000 · 55 kt wind · 11 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Florida, July 17, 2013$90,000 · 10 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Tennessee, July 17, 2013$75,000 · 1 in hail · 7 events
- Lightning Strike and Heavy Rain in Colorado, July 17, 2013$60,000 · 2 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in New Hampshire, July 17 to 18, 2013$20,000 · 50 kt wind · 12 events
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 465934, 465941, 465938, 469235, 465936, 465942.