Flooding in Virginia, January 31, 2013

Name: Flooding in Virginia, January 31, 2013
Start: 2013-01-31T01:00
End: 2013-01-31T11:31
Location: Virginia

January 31, 2013 · NWS RNK · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

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: $760,000
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.

With flood waters from heavy rainfall during the afternoon and evening of January 30th rapidly running off from higher terrain and collecting in area river basins, many area rivers exceeded flood stage on January 31st. River flooding was observed at many points along the Dan, James and New Rivers, as well as numerous small rivers and creeks across southwest and central Virginia. Flood waters in hillier terrain receded more quickly, however rivers across the Piedmont region of Virginia remained in flood into the first days of February as they absorbed the collected waters from rainfall occurring in the mountains to the west. Aside from flooded roads adjacent to some of the more swollen rivers, river flooding across the area was minimized due to very low river levels as a result of minor to moderately dry conditions across the region during the autumn.

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 31, 12:35 AM EST, 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 12:35 AM EST, 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1235 AM EST THU JAN 31 2013

.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST OF THE AREA
OVERNIGHT...ALLOWING HEAVY RAIN TO TAPER OFF...FOLLOWED BY
FALLING TEMPERATURES AND MORE GUSTY WINDS THURSDAY. COLD AIR
WILL PERSIST FROM THURSDAY THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND...WITH
PERIODIC EPISODES OF SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY MAINLY ACROSS THE
MOUNTAINS.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
AS OF 1110 PM EST WEDNESDAY...

SENT A QUICK UPDATE TO DROP THE TORNADO WATCH ACROSS THE EAST AS
THE FINAL SIGNIFICANT LINE OF LOW TOPPED CONVECTION MOVES EAST.
THIS IN COMBO WITH THE FLOW TURNING MORE WESTERLY AND THE FRONT
CROSSING OVERNIGHT SHOULD FINALLY START TO REDUCE THE COVERAGE OF
FLOODING RAINFALL INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. HOWEVER GIVEN A
COUPLE MORE HOURS FOR THE RAIN TO CLEAR THE EAST LEFT THE FLASH
FLOOD WATCH IN PLACE WHILE GRADUALLY REDUCING POPS OVER THE WEST
AS APPEARS HAVE ONLY ONE MORE BAND TO CLEAR WITH THE FRONT. OTRW
LEFT THE OTHER HEADLINES IN PLACE AS STRONGER WINDS ARRIVE FROM
THE WEST AFTER MIDNIGHT AND CONTINUE WITH THE COLD ADVECTION INTO
THURSDAY.

AS OF 830 PM WEDNESDAY...

QUASI-LINEAR CONVECTIVE SYSTEM (QLCS - SQUALL LINE) WILL RACE
EAST OF MAIN COLD FRONT THIS EVENING. TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 25 HAS
NOW REPLACED SEVERE STORM WATCH NUMBER 22. AFTER COORDINATION WITH
THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER...LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE BACKING AND
INCREASING OVER NC AND INTO SOUTHSIDE VA. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT
IN AN INCREASE IN THE SQUALL LINE INTENSITY AS IT MOVES EAST
ACROSS THE PIEDMONT. THIS NEW WATCH IS EFFECTIVE UNTIL 2AM...FOR
DAMAGING WINDS AND POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES.

AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE QLCS SHOULD SEE A LULL IN THE
WIND...ALTHOUGH PERIODS OF RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES...MAY CONTINUE UP
UNTIL THE FRONTAL PASSAGE LATER TONIGHT. SURFACE COLD FRONT IS
CURRENTLY MOVING EAST THROUGH THE OHIO/TN VALLEYS AND IS PROGGED
TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT...BRINING AN ABRUPT CHANGE
IN TEMPERATURE AND SHIFT IN WIND DIRECTION. ANY LULL IN THE WIND
PRIOR TO THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL INCREASE AGAIN POST FRONTAL WITH
STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION BRINGING STRONG WIND GUSTS AND FALLING
TEMPERATURES FOR THE LATE NIGHT...AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY
THURSDAY.

HAVE EXTENDED THE HIGH WIND WARNINGS/ADVISORIES THROUGH 4PM
THURSDAY TO ACCOUNT FOR BOTH PRE AND POST FRONTAL WINDS. FLASH
FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN EXPANDED EAST THROUGH SOUTHSIDE VA THROUGH
0400 AM THURSDAY TO ACCOUNT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN ANTICIPATED ALONG
AND JUST BEHIND QLCS. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL PERSIST...EVEN
IN THE WAKE OF THE QLCS...UNTIL ACTUAL COLD FRONT SWEEPS THE
DEEPER MOISTURE EAST OF THE AREA. CRITICAL FLOOD THRESHOLDS ARE
BEING MET THROUGHOUT THE AREA WITH RAIN AMOUNTS EXCEEDING FLASH
FLOOD GUIDANCE...AND IN SOME CASES SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE FFG. RIVER
GAGES ARE RESPONDING ACCORDINGLY...HYDROGRAPHS GOING
VERTICAL...ESP ALONG THE WATAUGA...HOLSTON...CLINCH...AND
HEADWATERS OF THE NEW RIVER. THIS IS WHERE UPWARDS OF 3 INCHES
HAVE RAIN HAS OCCURRED. FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCIES HAVE BEEN
ISSUED...WATAUGA COUNTY...WHERE RAIN AMOUNTS HAVE EXCEEDED 5
INCHES. THE WATUAGA RIVER WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE MODERATE TO MAJOR
FLOODING. THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IS LIFE THREATENING! WINTERTIME
SOILS WILL NOT ABSORB WATER LIKE THE SUMMER...ANYTHING MUCH OVER
AN INCH THIS TIME OF YEAR WILL GO INTO PURE RUNOFF...AND MUDSLIDES
ARE AN ALMOST CERTAINTY WITH THIS AMOUNT OF RAINFALL.

LOCAL MODELS INDICATE THE RAIN WILL COME TO AN ABRUBT END AFTER
MIDNIGHT...AROUND 1AM IN THE WEST...CLOSER TO 4 AM IN THE
EAST...ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. AT SOME POINT
MAY NEED TO CONSIDER WINTER WEATHER HEADLINES FOR THE FAR WESTERN
CWA...FROM WESTERN GREENBRIER...SOUTHWARD THROUGH BLUEFIELD AND
INTO THE HIGH COUNTRY OF NORTH CAROLINA. RAPID FALL IN TEMPERATURE
IS EXPECTED AFTER THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL RESULT IN CHANGE OVER
FROM RAIN TO SNOW. THIS CHANGE IS PROGGED TO TAKE PLACE AFTER
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INCH OR TWO OF SNOW
ACROSS THESE MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS THURSDAY MORNING.

WINDS/CLOUDS/MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. FROM THAT POINT ON...IT WILL BE BACK TO
WINTER WITH TEMPS AND PTYPE RESEMBLING SOMETHING MORE TYPICAL OF
JANUARY.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 415 PM EST WEDNESDAY...

WARM WEATHER IS OVER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.

POLAR AIR WHICH COMES INTO THE AREA THURSDAY WILL BE REINFORCED BY
SOME ARCTIC AIR THURSDAY NIGHT. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE
WILL PASS ACROSS THE AREA TOWARD MIDNIGHT THURSDAY... PASSING OFF
THE MID ATLANTIC COAST EARLY FRIDAY. WINDS AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM
WILL BACK TO THE SOUTHWEST ALLOWING SOME MOISTURE TO POOL INTO THE
REGION. THIS SYSTEM WILL STILL BE MOISTURE STARVED AS THE GULF IS
BEING BLOCKED BY A SURFACE RIDGE. THIS DISTURBANCE WILL BRING ONE
TO THREE INCHES OF DRY SNOW TO THE FAR WEST AND A DUSTING TO AN
INCH FOR COUNTIES ALONG AND JUST WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. CAN NOT
RULE OUT SCATTERED FLURRIES PUSHING EAST OF THE BLUE
RIDGE...POSSIBLY IN TO THE PIEDMONT EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

BEHIND THIS DISTURBANCE...MUCH COLDER AIR WILL SURGE INTO THE
REGION DURING THE DAY FRIDAY. 85H TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO
PLUNGE TO NEAR -16C IN THE AFTERNOON...SUGGESTING SURFACE TEMPS
WILL STRUGGLE TO GET ABOVE FREEZING EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE...AND
REMAIN IN THE 20S WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. FRIDAY NIGHT LOOKS TO
BE THE COLDEST OF THE UPCOMING NIGHT THIS WEEKEND...CLEAR SKIES
AND DIMINISHING WINDS ALLOWING FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 200 PM EST WEDNESDAY...

THE MEDIUM RANGE PERIOD IS DOMINATED BY WEST OR NORTHWEST FLOW AND
SOME DEGREE OF COLD ADVECTION UNDER LARGE LONG WAVE TROUGH THAT
PERSISTS OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF NORTH AMERICA...HOWEVER OVER TIME
THE AMPLITUDE OF THE TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY AS WE GO THROUGH
NEXT WEEK.  HOW MUCH THIS DIMINISHES...AS WELL AS THE TIMING OF A
FEW CLIPPER SYSTEMS THAT WILL PROVIDE A RE-ENFORCING SHOT OF COLDER
AIR AND SNOW SHOWER POTENTIAL...REMAINS SOMEWHAT IN QUESTION AS
THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN MUCH OF THE MODEL GUIDANCE THROUGH THIS
PERIOD.

BEGINNING SATURDAY HOWEVER...GUIDANCE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CLIPPER SYSTEM WILL APPROACH BY LATE IN THE DAY
AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH THE 00Z ECMWF AND 12Z CANADIAN A
LITTLE FASTER AND A LITTLE COLDER. 12Z GFS A BIT STRONGER WITH THIS
SYSTEM...BUT ALSO SOMEWHAT MILDER ON SATURDAY BEFORE IT ARRIVES WITH
WEAK WARM ADVECTION.  GFS ENSEMBLES ALSO SUGGEST THE OPERATIONAL GFS
IS ON THE WARMER SIDE OF THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS...SO EVEN THOUGH
WILL NOT GO AS COLD AS THE ECMWF MOS NUMBERS...WILL STAY A FEW DEG
COOLER THAN GFS-BASED NUMBERS. HAVE ALSO INTRODUCED SOME HIGH CHC TO
LOW LIKELY POPS IN THE FAR WEST AS EARLY AS LATE IN THE DAY
SATURDAY. WOULD EXPECT PRECIP TO ARRIVE EARLIER THAN THE GFS...AND
MAYBE EARLIER THAN THE ECMWF GIVEN THE TYPICAL BIAS OF THE MODELS IN
THESE SITUATIONS. STILL LOOKS LIKE A FAIRLY MINOR NW FLOW SNOWFALL
EVENT FOR THE UPSLOPE AREAS...YET A FEW INCHES IS NOT OUT OF THE
QUESTION. MAYBE EVEN A SKIFF FARTHER EAST UP TOWARD THE BLUE RDG IF
THE STRONGER GFS IDEA ENDS UP BEING CORRECT.

COOL HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BEHIND THAT...AND THE DEGREE OF COLD
AIR ADVECTION IS UNCERTAIN YET DOES NOT LOOK ESPECIALLY STRONG.  00Z
ECMWF BUILDS WEAK S/WV RIDGE IN FOR MONDAY ACTUALLY...AHEAD OF THE
NEXT SYSTEM. FASTER SOLUTIONS SUGGEST THIS NEXT CLIPPER COULD ARRIVE
BY LATE MONDAY...BUT CONSENSUS LOOKS MORE LIKE LATE MONDAY NIGHT
INTO TUESDAY. HAVE A SLIGHT CHC IN LATE MONDAY THOUGH AGAIN BECAUSE
OF MODEL BIASES TYPICALLY NOT FAST ENOUGH.  THIS IS LIKELY TO BE
MORE MINOR EVENT IN TERMS OF ANY SNOW SHOWER ACCUMULATIONS IN
TYPICAL UPSLOPE AREAS COMPARED TO WEEKEND EVENT...YET FAR ENOUGH OUT
THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR POTENTIAL AMPLIFICATION AND
CANADIAN IS MOST AGRESSIVE WITH THIS IDEA.

FINALLY BY WEDNESDAY THERE ARE SIGNS OF LARGE SCALE FLOW BECOMING
INCREASINGLY ZONAL...ESPECIALLY GFS SOLUTIONS...BUT SOME DEGREE OF
NW FLOW MAY CONTINUE WELL INTO NEXT WEEK SO NOT EXPECTING ANY MAJOR
WARM UPS THROUGH MID WEEK...WITH TEMPERATURES REMAINING FAIRLY
SEASONABLE. BETTER CHANCE FOR WARM UP MAY COME LATE IN THE WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 1220 AM EST THURSDAY...

HEAVY RAIN ENDING EAST OF LYH/DAN BUT WILL STILL SEE A SMALL
WINDOW OF MVFR CIGS AT DANVILLE. OTHERWISE...THE MAIN COLD FRONT
ENTERING THE MOUNTAINS NOW WILL BRING VFR CONDITIONS TO SITES
ROA/LYH/DAN THROUGH THIS TAF PERIOD...WITH ONLY SOME LIGHT RAIN
POSSIBLE EARLY.

THE WESTERN TERMINALS OF BLF/LWB WILL STAY IN MVFR AND MAY DROP TO
IFR AT BLF WITH SNOW SHOWERS INCREASING. SOME MVFR CIGS WILL EDGE
INTO BCB BY 09Z BUT RISE AGAIN TO VFR AFTER 13Z.

WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS ARE GOING TO BE AN ISSUE AS THEY GUST IN
THE 30 TO 40 KNOT RANGE EARLY THIS MORNING...AT MOST SITES BEFORE
DROPPING TO UNDER 30 KNOTS BY 18Z.

A CLIPPER TYPE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AFTER
MIDNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT-EARLY FRIDAY BRINGING A PERIOD OF MVFR
CIGS/VSBYS FROM SNOW SHOWERS. VFR CONDTIONS WILL THEN RETURN LATE
FRIDAY WITH ANOUTHER ROUND OF MVFR CIGS/VSBYS AGAIN SATURDAY NIGHT
ASSOCIATED WITH YET ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE - CLIPPER TYPE
SYSTEM.

HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FOR MONDAY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
HEAVY RAIN IS NOW CONFINED TO MAINLY THE PIEDMONT. WE ARE
TRANSITIONING PRODUCTS FROM FLASH FLOOD TO AREAL FLOOD AS THE
RAINFALL RATES ARE DECREASING BUT THE RUNOFF WILL KEEP
STREAMS...CREEKS AND SOME RIVERS OUT OF THEIR BANKS OR FORECAST TO
COME OUT OF THEIR BANKS. WILL KEEP THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH GOING FOR
NOW UNTIL THE HEAVY RAIN CLEARS THE EAST...BUT SHOULD BE ABLE TO
CANCEL IT EARLY.

THIS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BASIN AVERAGE RAINFALL WILL RESULT IN
SIGNIFICANT RISES ALONG AREA RIVERS WITH POTENTIAL FOR MINOR RIVER
FLOODING. MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING IS LIKELY ON THE WATAUGA
RIVER WHERE UPWARDS OF 6 INCHES OF RAIN HAS BEEN OBSERVED. A FLASH
FLOOD EMERGENCY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WATUAGA COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA.
WATER RESCUES ARE UNDERWAY. PLEASE MONITOR RIVER FORECASTS CLOSELY
AS WE WILL BE UPDATING THE FORECASTS AS INFORMATION BECOMES
AVAILABLE FROM THE RIVER FORECAST CENTERS.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 4 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING FOR VAZ007-
     009>020-022>024-032>035-043>045-058.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR VAZ011-013-014-
     016>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059.
     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR VAZ007-009-
     010-012-015.
NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 4 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING FOR
     NCZ001>006-018>020.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR NCZ002>006-019-
     020.
     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR NCZ001-018.
WV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 4 AM EST EARLY THIS MORNING FOR
     WVZ042>045.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR WVZ043>045.
     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR WVZ042.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JH/PM
NEAR TERM...JH/PM
SHORT TERM...PM
LONG TERM...SK
AVIATION...DS/WP
HYDROLOGY...

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 30, 11:04 PM EST, 1 hour 56 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1104 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

NCZ001-018-VAZ007-009-010-012-015-WVZ042-010415-
ASHE-WATAUGA-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-WYTHE-GRAYSON-MERCER-
1104 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST THURSDAY...

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.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.
   FLASH FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   HIGH WIND WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

VAZ019-020-WVZ043>045-010415-
ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER-
1104 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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.
   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   WIND ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

VAZ046-047-059-010415-
APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-CHARLOTTE-
1104 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTH
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.

   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   WIND ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ002>006-019-020-VAZ011-013-014-016>018-022>024-032>035-043>045-
058-010415-
ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-WILKES-YADKIN-GILES-
PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-
PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-HALIFAX-
1104 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST THURSDAY...

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.
   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   WIND ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 30, 9:48 PM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
948 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

VAZ035-045>047-310330-
BUCKINGHAM VA-CAMPBELL VA-APPOMATTOX VA-AMHERST VA-
948 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR...
  BUCKINGHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  NORTHEASTERN CAMPBELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  APPOMATTOX COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  SOUTHEASTERN AMHERST COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 1030 PM EST

* AT 942 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
  TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG SHOWERS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
  MONTEBELLO TO RUSTBURG...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF FORKS OF BUFFALO TO 8 MILES EAST OF EVINGTON... AND
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE SHOWERS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LYNCHBURG CITY...                CONCORD...
  AMHERST...                       CLIFFORD...
  APPOMATTOX...                    BENT CREEK...
  RUSTBURG...                      DILLWYN...
  MADISON HEIGHTS...               STONEWALL...
  BOCOCK...                        SHEPPARDS...
  FALCONERVILLE...                 NEW GLASGOW...
  LOWESVILLE...                    RIVERVILLE...
  OAKVILLE...                      SPOUT SPRING...
  EVERGREEN...                     AND TOWER HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PROLONGED HEAVY RAINFALL MAY CAUSE WATER TO FLOW OVER THE ROADWAY.
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE WHERE THE ROAD HAS BECOME FLOODED.

&&

LAT...LON 3762 7826 3734 7847 3740 7859 3722 7873
      3715 7921 3716 7921 3781 7915 3777 7907
      3771 7906 3769 7898 3754 7890 3754 7883
      3760 7880 3769 7868 3768 7865 3776 7858
      3776 7850 3779 7849 3774 7842 3769 7824
TIME...MOT...LOC 0242Z 241DEG 46KT 3782 7909 3724 7912

AS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 10:23 PM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1023 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 N BUENA VISTA CITY    37.75N 79.37W
01/30/2013                   ROCKBRIDGE         VA   PUBLIC

            A COUPLE LOCATIONS ALONG LONG HOLLOW ROAD JUST NORTH OF
            BUENA VISTA WERE EXPERIENCING FLASH FLOODING...INCLUDING
            8-12 INCHES OF WATER NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH CATALPA
            ROAD.

&&

SK

Local storm report, Jan 30, 10:28 PM EST, 2 hours 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1028 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1025 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 S SHAWSVILLE          37.14N 80.27W
01/30/2013                   MONTGOMERY         VA   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            SOUTH FORK OF ROANOKE RIVER REACHED FLOOD STAGE

&&

SK

Local storm report, Jan 30, 11:51 PM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1151 PM EST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1145 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 NNW ROCKY MOUNT       37.03N  79.91W
01/30/2013                   FRANKLIN           VA   911 CALL CENTER

            BLUE BEND ROADS AT INTERSECTION WITH JAMESTOWN ROAD
            FLOODED

&&

EVENT NUMBER RNK1300387

AMS

Local storm report, Jan 31, 12:18 AM EST, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1218 AM EST THU JAN 31 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0341 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 W DUBLIN              37.11N 80.75W
01/30/2013                   PULASKI            VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            15 BY 30 FOOT SECTION OF ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE

0341 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 W DUBLIN              37.12N 80.75W
01/30/2013                   PULASKI            VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PART OF ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE

0341 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DUBLIN                  37.12N 80.70W
01/30/2013                   PULASKI            VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN DUBLIN

0341 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW DUBLIN            37.12N 80.71W
01/30/2013                   PULASKI            VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DETACHED GARAGE HEAVILY DAMAGE

0354 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W FAIRLAWN            37.15N 80.58W
01/30/2013                   PULASKI            VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DAMAGE TO WALL OF COMMERCIAL BUILDING

0403 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW BLACKSBURG        37.24N 80.43W
01/30/2013                   MONTGOMERY         VA   STORM CHASER

            5 INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS DOWN ON VIRGINIA TECH GOLF
            COURSE NEAR PRICES FORK ROAD.

0433 PM     FLASH FLOOD      VALLE CRUCIS            36.22N 81.78W
01/30/2013                   WATAUGA            NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            BRIDGE OVER WATAUGA RIVER ON DEWITT BARNETT ROAD WAS
            REPORTED UNDER WATER.

0435 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SE BOONE              36.20N 81.66W
01/30/2013                   WATAUGA            NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            STREAM OUT OF ITS BANKS AND FLOWIONG OVER DEERFIELD ROAD
            AT THE MEDICAL CENTER.

0505 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 WNW STEWARTSVILLE     37.28N 79.84W
01/30/2013  M62.00 MPH       BEDFORD            VA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WSW FRIES               36.72N 80.97W
01/30/2013                   GRAYSON            VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN FRIES REPORTS DALTON CREEK
            FLOWING OUT OF ITS BANKS AND ACROSS MAIN STREET.

0635 PM     FLASH FLOOD      BOONE                   36.21N 81.67W
01/30/2013                   WATAUGA            NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            BOONE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT AT LEAST
            FOUR WATER RESCUES ARE OCCURING AT THIS TIME...AND
            NUMEROUS ROADS ARE CLOSED IN THE BOONE AREA

0647 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 WNW PIPESTEM          37.54N 81.01W
01/30/2013                   SUMMERS            WV   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            BLUESTONE RIVER REACHED FLOOD STAGE AT PIPESTEM

0653 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 SW JORDAN MINES       37.63N 80.18W
01/30/2013                   ALLEGHANY          VA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            8 INCHES OF WATER FLOWING ACROSS POTTS CREEK ROAD IN THE
            8400 BLOCK. ROAD CLOSED.

0700 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 WNW NARROWS           37.35N 80.89W
01/30/2013                   MERCER             WV   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            EAST RIVER AT WILLOWTON REACHED FLOOD STAGE

0700 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 ENE JEFFERSON         36.44N 81.40W
01/30/2013                   ASHE               NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            NEW RIVER FLOWING ACROSS DOG CREEK ROAD NEAR CRUMPLER

0705 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 NE TODD               36.34N 81.55W
01/30/2013                   ASHE               NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            ONE FOOT OF WATER FLOWING ACROSS HOLMAN ROAD. ALMOST 4
            INCHES OF RAIN MEASURED

0710 PM     FLASH FLOOD      6 S MOUTH OF WILSON     36.50N 81.34W
01/30/2013                   ASHE               NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            NORTH FORK NEW RIVER FLOWING OVER SILAS CREEK ROAD.
            ESTIMATED 5 INCHES OF RAIN.

0713 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 E ASHLAND             36.43N 81.62W
01/30/2013                   ASHE               NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            EXTENSIVE FLOODING REPORTED ALONG PEAK ROAD INTERSECTION
            WITH WORTH CHAPEL ROAD

0730 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 4 SSE CHATMOSS          36.63N 79.78W
01/30/2013                   HENRY              VA   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE DOWN ACROSS IRISBURG RD

0730 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 N RED SULPHUR SPRING  37.53N 80.77W
01/30/2013                   MONROE             WV   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            INDIAN CREEK REACHED FLOOD STAGE NEAR RED SULPHER
            SPRINGS.

0830 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 NNW BLOWING ROCK      36.20N 81.71W
01/30/2013                   WATAUGA            NC   PUBLIC

            TWO FEET OF WATER FLOWING OVER DIAMOND BRANCH ROAD.

0900 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 WSW ROANOKE           37.26N 80.02W
01/30/2013                   CITY OF ROANOKE    VA   PUBLIC

            6 INCHES OF WATER FLOWING ACROSS CARVEN CREEK ROAD NEAR
            DEYERLE ROAD

1000 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 N BUENA VISTA CITY    37.75N 79.37W
01/30/2013                   ROCKBRIDGE         VA   PUBLIC

            A COUPLE LOCATIONS ALONG LONG HOLLOW ROAD JUST NORTH OF
            BUENA VISTA WERE EXPERIENCING FLASH FLOODING...INCLUDING
            8-12 INCHES OF WATER NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH CATALPA
            ROAD.

1025 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 S SHAWSVILLE          37.14N 80.27W
01/30/2013                   MONTGOMERY         VA   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            SOUTH FORK OF ROANOKE RIVER REACHED FLOOD STAGE

1145 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 NNW ROCKY MOUNT       37.03N 79.91W
01/30/2013                   FRANKLIN           VA   911 CALL CENTER

            BLUE BEND ROADS AT INTERSECTION WITH JAMESTOWN ROAD
            FLOODED

&&

WPERRY

Local storm report, Jan 31, 12:55 AM EST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1255 AM EST THU JAN 31 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 W RONDA               36.22N 81.03W
01/30/2013                   WILKES             NC   911 CALL CENTER

            WATER OVER THE BRIDGE AT ARBOR GROVE CHURCH ROAD NEAR
            COTTON MILL ROAD

&&

AMS

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Radford (C)

When: January 31, 1:00 AM EST to 11:31 AM EST
Where: Radford (C) County, 1.78 mi NE of Radford to 1.68 mi NE of Radford
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.141, -80.541

About 100 cars were partially or completely submerged at the Dedmon Center parking lot at Radford University when the New River overflowed its banks. Flooding on the New River was aggravated by water releases at Claytor Lake Dam which took place after midnight on January 31st. It is estimated that the New River near the Dedmon Center rose nine feet in one hour between 2:30 AM and 3:30 AM.

Flood, Salem (C)

When: January 31, 2:00 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where: Salem (C) County, 1.52 mi NNE of Salem (C) to 1.46 mi NE of Salem (C)
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.319, -80.035

A low water bridge on Epperly Lane was flooded.

Flood, Salem (C)

When: January 31, 2:00 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where: Salem (C) County, 3.34 mi WSW of Salem (C) to 2.06 mi WSW of Salem (C)
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.277, -80.103

Prolonged heavy rainfall caused the Roanoke River to overflow its banks along sections of Riverside Road.

Flood, Roanoke

When: January 31, 4:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Roanoke County, 2.75 mi E of Starkey to 2.63 mi E of Starkey
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 37.200, -79.950

Indian Grave Road near Back Creek was impassable due to flood waters.

Flood, Roanoke

When: January 31, 4:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Roanoke County, 0.73 mi E of Vinton to 0.8 mi E of Vinton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 37.281, -79.887

A 15 foot by 5 foot sink hole was observed on Mountain View Road, which was caused by heavy rainfall in the area.

Flood, Roanoke

When: January 31, 4:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where: Roanoke County, 2.67 mi ENE of Medley to 2.66 mi ENE of Medley
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 37.338, -79.957

Flooding caused by heavy rainfall made the intersection of Plymouth Drive and Williamson Road impassible.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, January 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 431313, 431347, 431349, 431312, 431351, 431352.