North Carolina, 2013

Flash 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.

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
$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.

What happened

The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.

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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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 2:38 AM EST, 9 hours 52 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 17, 7:51 AM EST, 4 hours 39 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 11:35 AM EST, 55 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 11:35 AM EST, 55 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 12:24 PM EST, 6 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 17, 12:30 PM EST, 0 minutes before
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The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

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.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2013

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 465934, 465941, 465938, 469235, 465936, 465942.