Virginia, 2018Flash Flooding and Flood in Virginia, October 10 to 11, 2018
October 10 to 11, 2018 · NWS RNK · 8 events in 5 counties and zones
The remains of Hurricane Michael were preceded in parts of western Virginia by a so-called Predecessor Event (PRE) which brought moderate to heavy rainfall across several counties early on the 11th of October. A deep moisture plume surged north on the periphery of the subtropical ridge over the southeast with the very high precipitable water producing high rainfall rates.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
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- Heat and drought
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- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- 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.
The remains of Hurricane Michael were preceded in parts of western Virginia by a so-called Predecessor Event (PRE) which brought moderate to heavy rainfall across several counties early on the 11th of October. A deep moisture plume surged north on the periphery of the subtropical ridge over the southeast with the very high precipitable water producing high rainfall rates. The heaviest rainfall from the PRE was concentrated in upper and middle portions of the New River basin and the far upper Dan basin where the amountsl ranged from 2 to 6 inches with isolated higher amounts in the 24 hours ending at 700 AM local time.
Event by event
5 flash flood, 2 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Rain, Galax (C)
- When
- October 10, 6:00 AM EST to October 11, 6:00 AM EST
- Where
- Galax (C) County, 1.08 mi S of Galax
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 36.654, -80.917
The COOP site at Galax Water Plant (GAAV2) measured 4.50 inches in 24-hours ending at 700 AM local time on the 11th. This was the highest 24-hour rainfall during the month of October and 4th highest for any day, with complete records dating back to 2000 and a brief period from 1907-1910. This value falls into the 90 percent confidence interval (4.00-4.81 inches) for a 10-year recurrence interval event (.10 annual exceedance probability) per NOAA Atlas 2.
Heavy Rain, Grayson
- When
- October 10, 6:00 AM EST to October 11, 6:00 AM EST
- Where
- Grayson County, 1.29 mi NNW of Reavistown
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 36.647, -80.979
The automated rain gage located at the USGS Galax River gage site (GAXV2) measured 5.03 inches in 24-hours ending 700 AM local time on the 11th. This value falls into the 90 percent confidence interval (4.74-5.73 inches) for a 25-year recurrence interval event (.04 annual exceedance probability) per NOAA Atlas 2.
Flash Flood, Carroll
- When
- October 10, 4:30 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
- Where
- Carroll County, 2.66 mi SE of Galax City to 6.4 mi WNW of Pipers Gap
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.640, -80.890
Flash flooding was reported on social media along Old Quaker Road near Pipers Gap where Wards Mill Branch crosses the road. A home was surrounded by rapidly moving water in the photos.
Flash Flood, Galax (C)
- When
- October 10, 4:40 PM EST to 7:40 PM EST
- Where
- Galax (C) County, 1.53 mi ENE of Galax to 1.56 mi S of Galax
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.681, -80.896
Mill Creek flooded and several people were evacuated from a mobile home park off of Glade Street. Social media had several reports of flooded roads in Galax including the intersection of Swanson Street and McArthur Street and Glendale Road and Hebron Road.
Flash Flood, Grayson
- When
- October 10, 5:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
- Where
- Grayson County, 0.69 mi S of Reavistown to 2.06 mi ENE of Delhart
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.620, -80.970
Social media reported Delhart Road (Route 622) flooded in eastern Grayson County.
Flood, Galax (C)
- When
- October 10, 5:20 PM EST to 10:15 PM EST
- Where
- Galax (C) County, 1.54 mi S of Galax to 1.32 mi W of Galax
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 36.648, -80.918
The stream gage on Chestnut Creek at Galax (CCKV2) crested at 9.77 feet (4860 cfs) in the evening hours of the 10th. Minor flood stage is 7 feet. Several roads were closed, including Chestnut Drive at this stage. This was the highest stage since Novenber, 2003 (11.91 ft.) at this gage and was between a 10- and 25-year flood event (0.10-0.04 annual chance flood) per USGS information.
Flash Flood, Wythe
- When
- October 10, 5:30 PM EST to 6:45 PM EST
- Where
- Wythe County, 0.39 mi N of Ivanhoe to 1.39 mi N of Grahams Forge
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 36.836, -80.950
Wythe County 911 dispatch reported numerous road closed due to flooding|in eastern Wythe county, mainly in the Max Meadows and Fort Chiswell|areas. Locust Hill Road, Felts lane, Danner Road and Archer Road were|flooding. Ivanhoe Road was also closed.
Flash Flood, Floyd
- When
- October 11, 9:13 AM EST to 1:13 PM EST
- Where
- Floyd County, Floyd to 0.15 mi N of Floyd
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- 911 Call Center
- Coordinates
- 36.920, -80.320
Seven roads were reported closed across Floyd County due to high water with the first reports at of 1013 AM local time.
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm in Florida, October 10, 201852 deaths · $11 billion · 31 events
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm in Georgia, October 10, 20181 death · $4.4 billion · 26 events
- Hurricane and Tornadoes in Georgia, October 10 to 11, 2018$1.4 million · EF1 · 64 events
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in North Carolina, October 10 to 13, 2018$5.6 million · 70 kt wind · 26 events
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm in Alabama, October 10, 2018$4.4 million · 5 events
- Heavy Snow in North Dakota, October 10, 2018$800,000 · 2 events
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in South Carolina, October 10 to 11, 20181 injured · $85,000 · EF0 · 25 events
- Tornado and Storm Surge in Florida, October 10, 2018$95,000 · EF0 · 3 events
- Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in Georgia, October 10 to 11, 2018$25,000 · 6 events
- High Surf in Hawaii, October 10 to 12, 201816 events
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in South Carolina, October 10 to 11, 201810 events
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in North Carolina, October 10 to 11, 2018$500 · 8 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 788298, 788301, 788366, 788360, 788361, 788357, 788362, 788676.