Flooding and Heavy Rain in West Virginia, April 15 to 19, 2018

The cooperative observer at Bartow measured 2.5 inches of rain in 24 hours.

Rocket Boys Drive and Frog Level Road were closed in the Coalwood area due to flooding on Clear Fork and Snakeroot Branch. John's Branch Road was closed near War due to high water on John's Branch.

The Dry Fork at Bradshaw also rose out of its banks early on the 16th, causing minor flooding in some homes along the river. The gage showed the river crested half a foot above its flood stage of 10 feet a couple hours before sunrise on the 16th. It was back within its banks just after sunrise.

The Tygart Valley River and many of its smaller tributaries flooded, closing multiple roads. This included Route 38 near Moatsville where Brush Fork and Teter Creek came out of their banks. Route 57 was closed in several places near Elk City, as Elk Creek flooded. Maple Avenue and other roads in Philippi were flooded by the Tygart Valley River.

In Philippi, the river crested about a foot and a half above its 19 foot flood stage during the early afternoon of the 16th. This was after rising above flood stage mid morning. The river returned to its banks by mid morning on the 17th.

A bit upstream, in Belington, the river crested at 16.9, just below moderate flood stage of 17. This occurred during the predawn hours on the 17th. It took until late afternoon for the flood waters to recede.

The Middle Fork of the Tygart Valley River flooded near Audra State Park, about 0.3 feet above its moderate level of 11 feet. The river first rose out of its banks around sunrise on the 16th, crested mid morning, and was back in its banks by mid afternoon.

Flooding along the Tygart Valley River and Shavers Fork closed multiple roads across the county. Early on the 16th, numerous roads were closed in Valley Head. US 250 and several other roads were closed in the Huttonsville area.

The Middle Fork of the Tygart Valley River at Ellamore rose above its bankfull level of 13 feet early on the 16th. It crested just under moderate flood stage of 18 feet just before sunrise and returned it its banks by mid afternoon.

On the Tygart Valley River at Mill Creek, the river gage showed the river rose to 13.8 feet, nearly 2 feet above is bankfull level of 11 feet. This happen right around sunrise on the 16th. It took until mid evening for the river to return to its banks.

At Dailey, the river rose above its 14 foot flood stage around noon on the 16th. The river crested just above flood stage during the early afternoon and then returned to its banks by mid afternoon.

The Shavers Fork also flooded, with the gage near Bowden showing a brief period when the river was out of its bank the morning of the 16th. The river crested at 13.4 feet, about half a foot above its bankfull level of 13 feet, just after sunrise.

The Buckannon River and Sand Run both flooded. This caused several closed roads in Buckhannon, including portions of Cleveland Avenue, Wood Street, Route 20, and River Road. There were several water rescues performed through the day when drivers drove into the flood waters.

The Buckannon River at Buckhannon rose above its 23 foot flood stage mid morning on the 16th. It crested just above the 25 foot moderate stage that evening, before returning to its banks before sunrise on the 17th.

Sand Run also flooded, cresting about a foot above its 6 foot bankfull level during the early morning hours on the 16th. It was back in its banks shortly after sunrise. Burnt Bridge Road was closed due to high water.

In Jane Lew, Hackers Creek flooded parts of the city ball park and Parkway Drive. Vadis Road also flooded along Walnut Fork near Vadis. Interstate 79 was also closed near mile maker 105 due to high water on Hackers Creek and Jesse Run.

Corbin Branch flooded, covering a section of Tolley Road near Corbin Branch Road south of Oreide. Water also flowed over Wickwire Road near Brownlow when Dog Run came out of its banks.

Flooding along the Williams River near Dyer closed Forest Service Road 101, and flooded other low spots along the river.

The river gage showed the river crested almost a foot above its 10.5 foot bankfull level during the predawn hours of the 16th. It was back within its banks by sunrise.

Flooding along the Birch River caused the closure of Little Burch Road in Little Burch. There were also some driveways flooded along the river in Herold.

In Herold, the gage showed the river rose above its 12 foot bankfull level very early on the 16th. It crested during the predawn hours around 12.2 feet and was back in its banks at sunrise.

The Greenbrier River flooded, closing Route 39 near Marlinton and Back River Road near Durbin.

The gage on the Greenbrier at Durbin showed the river rose above its bankfull level of 7 feet during the pre-dawn hours on the 16th. The river crested just below 7.5 feet shortly after noon, and returned to its banks before evening.

Further downstream, at Marlinton, the Greenbrier River rose out of its banks mid morning on the 16th. It crested just above its flood stage of 10 feet, but was back within its banks by noon.

Middle Island Creek flooded near Little, reaching 18.8 feet, which is well above its 16 foot moderate flood stage. Flooding began as the creek rose above its bankfull level of 14 feet during the predawn hours of the 16th. It crested that evening, and returned to its banks before sunrise on the 17th. Low lying areas and camps along the river were flooded, along with Stewarts Run Road.

Flooding along the West Fork River and some of its tributaries resulted in closed roads, including Hastings Run Road near Craigmoor, and sections of Liberty Avenue, Baltimore Street, River Road and Route 19 in Clarksburg. One driver had to be rescued after becoming stranded in high water in downtown Clarksburg.

In Clarksburg, the West Fork River rose above its 14 foot flood stage just after sunrise on the 16th. It crested in just over 16 feet, which is moderate flood stage, early that evening. It took until just after midnight for the water to recede.

Farther north, in Enterprise, the West Fork also rose above flood stage around sunrise on the 16th. It crested at nearly 20.5 feet, or 3.5 feet above its 17 foot flood stage during the late afternoon. The river returned to its banks during the predawn hours of the 17th.

Route 39 in the Bear Run community was covered in 3 feet of water from the Cherry River. Water also flowed over the 41/55 split in Persinger, along Persinger Creek.

River Street in Glenville flooded as the Little Kanawha River rose out of its banks. The river rose above its flood stage of 23 feet shortly after sunrise on the 16th. It crested at about 25. 7 feet that afternoon, and returned to its banks by late evening.

Several campgrounds, along with portions of County Routes 2, 17 and 25 were flooded as the New River at Thurmond rose out of its banks.

The river gage indicated flooding started during the predawn hours on the 17th, with a crest about half a foot above the 19 foot bankfull level mid morning. The river returned to its banks by mid afternoon.

For the second time in the month of April, the Ohio River flooded near Point Pleasant, with water collecting in low lying areas. The river rose above flood stage, 40 feet, during the late afternoon of the 17th. It crested just over 42 feet on the afternoon of the 18th, and returned to its banks mid morning on the 19th.