North Carolina, 2015

Flooding in North Carolina, September 28 to 30, 2015

September 28 to 30, 2015 · NWS RNK · 8 events in 4 counties and zones

S. combining to bring strong easterly flow into the southern Mid-Atlantic along with abundant moisture.

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
$3,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

An unusual weather pattern became established around the 25th with very strong high pressure building across New England and low pressure over the southeastern U.S. combining to bring strong easterly flow into the southern Mid-Atlantic along with abundant moisture. Rainfall ending 12z on the 25th was generally confined to the southern portions of the HSA with up to 1 inch in parts of the North Carolina piedmont. The rains became much heavier and widespread over the next two days with 1 to 4 inches ending at 12z on the 26th and another 1 to nearly 5 inches ending at 12z on the 27th. Over the next five days rainfall was nearly constant in some areas with pulses of heavier rainfall but with the heaviest amounts concentrating across the NC mountains and out into the piedmont as well. 5-day rainfall totals across parts of NW NC ending at 12z on the 30th ranged from 6 to nearly 10 inches in parts of Alleghany County. The most serious flooding occurred early on the 29th as heavier rainfall moved across parts of Rockingham County with lesser amounts over parts of Caswell and Stokes counties. The AWOS gage at Reidsville (KSIF) picked up 1.03 in 1-hour ending around 2 AM.

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 Sep 28, 10:29 PM EST, 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 28, 10:29 PM EST, 1 minute before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 28, 7:37 PM EST, 2 hours 53 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 28, 8:32 PM EST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 28, 8:36 PM EST, 1 hour 54 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 28, 9:47 PM EST, 43 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Caswell

When
September 28, 10:30 PM EST to September 29, 12:30 PM EST
Where
Caswell County, 0.56 mi E of Yanceyville Arpt to 0.56 mi ENE of Yanceyville Arpt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.400, -79.390

Several roads were closed due to flooding including in the 2500 block of Route 158.

Flood, Caswell

When
September 28, 10:30 PM EST to September 29, 12:30 PM EST
Where
Caswell County, 1.49 mi NNW of Yanceyville Arpt to 1.76 mi NNW of Yanceyville Arpt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.420, -79.410

Mineral Spring Road bridge was closed due to flooding.

Flood, Rockingham

When
September 28, 10:30 PM EST to September 29, 6:30 AM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 2.31 mi E of Bakers Xrds
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.365, -79.779

A water rescue was required from a car stuck in high water along County Home Road near Vernon Road.

Flood, Rockingham

When
September 29, 6:23 AM EST to September 30, 6:23 PM EST
Where
Rockingham County, 2.78 mi WNW of Mayodan Mayo Arpt to 1.79 mi W of Ellisboro
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.414, -80.027

Flooding was reported in numerous locations across Rockingham County early on the 29th with roads closed due to high water on State Highway 135 at U.S. Route 220 in Mayodan, Highway 135 at Harrington Parkway in Eden, Wolf Island Road near Reidsville and multiple roads in and around Stoneville. Little Troublesome Creek just south of Reidsville was reported to be 6 feet out of its banks. The Dan River at Wentworth (WENN7) crested at 7AM on the 30th at 21.71 feet (Minor Flood Stage = 19 feet).

Flood, Stokes

When
September 29, 10:30 AM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Stokes County, 1.99 mi SE of Campbell to 2.08 mi ESE of Campbell
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.514, -80.201

A spotter reported that Doss Road was closed near Lawsonville, possibly due to flooding from Snow Creek.

Flood, Stokes

When
September 29, 10:30 AM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Stokes County, 1.99 mi SE of Campbell to 2.08 mi ESE of Campbell
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.514, -80.201

A spotter reported that Doss Road was closed near Lawsonville, possibly due to flooding from Snow Creek.

Flood, Watauga

When
September 29, 1:15 PM EST to 9:15 PM EST
Where
Watauga County, 2.07 mi SW of Foscoe to 2.03 mi SW of Foscoe
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.147, -81.793

The Watauga River flooded a portion of Aldridge Road at the intersection of Berry Road. The river gage at Sugar Grove (SGWN7) crested at 7.07 feet (Minor Flood Stage = 6 ft) at around 615 PM.

Flood, Watauga

When
September 29, 1:50 PM EST to 7:50 PM EST
Where
Watauga County, 0.83 mi N of Boone Blwng Rck Arpt to 0.52 mi ENE of Boone Blwng Rck Arpt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
36.212, -81.629

Flooding was reported over a portion of Bamboo Road.

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

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, September 2015

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: 601943, 601944, 601945, 601947, 601948, 601949, 601951, 601950.