Showers and isolated thunderstorms were observed training across the foothills and across the Blue Ridge of North Carolina during the early morning hours of September 12th. This convection developed in an environment of deep tropical moisture along the periphery of high pressure wedged against the eastern face of the Appalachians.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.
Showers and isolated thunderstorms were observed training across the foothills and across the Blue Ridge of North Carolina during the early morning hours of September 12th. This convection developed in an environment of deep tropical moisture along the periphery of high pressure wedged against the eastern face of the Appalachians. Despite low instability, rainfall rates still managed to reach two inches per hour in a few spots.|Runoff from this rainfall resulted in the South Fork New River near Jefferson rising two feet between 2 am and 7 am EDT on the 12th and triggered a small debris flow.
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 12, 12:17 AM EST, 13 minutes earlier.
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</html>Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 608 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020 NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-122215- Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes- Yadkin-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll- Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick- Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox- Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte- 608 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020 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. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. VAZ007-WVZ042>044-507-508-122215- Tazewell-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier- 608 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Saturday into Sunday, expect periods of moderate to heavy rain. Localized flooding is possible. Monday through Thursday, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
910 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
WVZ042-120145-
Mercer-
910 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
...A LINE OF heavy rain showers WILL AFFECT MERCER COUNTY through
945 pm edt...
At 907 PM EDT, radar indicated a band of heavy rain showers along a
line from Lerona to near Princeton to near Pinnacle Rock State Park.
Movement was northwest at 10 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Bluefield...
Princeton...
Athens...
Matoaka...
Camp Creek...
Bramwell...
and Oakvale.
Very heavy rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may cause
localized flooding. As much as 1 inch of rain will be possible in
just an hour. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
LAT...LON 3742 8130 3741 8129 3742 8128 3743 8129
3751 8122 3751 8121 3760 8114 3759 8112
3759 8111 3742 8086 3731 8098 3727 8116
3724 8123 3732 8130 3740 8132
TIME...MOT...LOC 0107Z 112DEG 9KT 3746 8099 3732 8108 3728 8130
RABSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
924 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
NCZ003>005-120215-
Stokes-Surry-Rockingham-
924 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
...Heavy Rain Showers to Move Across western
Rockingham...Stokes...and Surry Counties through 1015 PM EDT...
A band of showers with heavy rainfall has developed between
Mayodan...King...and Pilot Mountain...moving northwest at 10 mph.
Up to an inch of rain could fall in an hour or less as these showers
move northwest across the region. Minor flooding will be possible
in areas that receive heavier rainfall.
LAT...LON 3626 8047 3626 8053 3629 8054 3627 8060
3629 8063 3628 8063 3625 8067 3627 8068
3627 8073 3628 8074 3627 8075 3656 8080
3654 7994 3627 7991 3626 8012 3626 8045
3624 8045
TIME...MOT...LOC 0121Z 112DEG 8KT 3635 8007
RABSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
940 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
NCZ019-120230-
Wilkes-
940 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
...Heavy Rain Showers to Impact Western Wilkes County through 1030
PM EDT...
Heavy rain showers have developed across western Wilkes County from
just east of Deep Gap to Summit to Wilbar to Halls Mills. Movement
was northwest at 10 mph.
Very heavy rainfall with this slow moving activity can result in
minor flooding in poor drainage and low-lying areas. Rainfall up to
1 inch per hour is possible with these showers.
LAT...LON 3618 8148 3620 8146 3624 8148 3626 8146
3626 8143 3628 8141 3630 8141 3628 8139
3628 8137 3633 8137 3637 8130 3636 8126
3637 8123 3627 8109 3613 8144
TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 112DEG 8KT 3625 8130
RABSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service BLACKSBURG VA
1151 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
NCZ002-120430-
Alleghany-
1151 PM EDT Fri Sep 11 2020
...AN AREA OF HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT EASTERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
At 1148 PM EDT, Heavy rain from a cluster of showers were near
Roaring Gap, or near Ennice, moving northwest at 10 mph.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these showers, and may cause
localized flooding. Rainfall of 1 to 2 inch per hour is possible
with these showers. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Locations impacted include...
Sparta...
Ennice...
Roaring Gap...
Glade Valley...
Barrett...
and Whitehead.
LAT...LON 3639 8104 3641 8104 3642 8108 3643 8108
3643 8111 3642 8113 3643 8116 3642 8118
3643 8123 3657 8112 3656 8096 3654 8092
3650 8093 3645 8098 3641 8096 3637 8098
TIME...MOT...LOC 0348Z 117DEG 10KT 3646 8098
RSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy rain, 1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
A personal weather station reported a rainfall accumulation of 4.41 inches from 1:30 am through 6:30 am EDT on September 12th.
A personal weather station recorded 3.42 inches of rainfall between 1:30 am and 6:30 am on the morning of September 12th.
Heavy rain caused a small debris flow to occur from a hillside onto Highway 221 in the community of Jefferson.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, September 2020
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: 920232, 920233, 920231.