Flash Flood — Haywood, North Carolina

2022-05-26 · near Sunburst, Haywood, North Carolina

Event narrative

Automated stream gauges along the Pigeon River and its tributaries and feeder streams indicated flash flooding developed throughout the upper part of the basin after 3.5 to 5 inches of rain fell in the headwaters across the high elevations of the Balsams in about 24 hours, with more than half of that falling from late morning into the afternoon. Impacted roads included backwater effects from Bird Creek inundating Mill Dam Rd and Fieldbrook Rd, where some buildings were affected. Low lying areas along the Pigeon were flooded in the town of Clyde.

Wider weather episode

A broad band of moderate to heavy rain showers with embedded strong to severe thunderstorms moved over western North Carolina throughout the afternoon into the evening. Several strong to severe thunderstorms produced locally damaging wind gusts, brief large hail, and even a couple of tornadoes, including a strong tornado in Iredell County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.3940, -82.8920)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1030023. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.