Flash Flood — Cleveland, North Carolina

2024-01-09 · near Boiling Spgs, Cleveland, North Carolina

Event narrative

A stream gauge on the Broad River indicated flash flooding developed along the stream near Boiling Springs after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell throughout the basin in about 12 hours. Moderate flooding eventually developed, with multiple roads inundated along the river, as were the crawl spaces of several homes, particularly in the Abes Mountain Rd area. While rapid stream rises came to an end with cessation of heavy rain during the late afternoon and evening, the river remained in moderate flood stage through the overnight hours and much of the 10th.

Wider weather episode

A major/complex frontal system brought widespread rain with embedded thunderstorms to western North Carolina, mainly during the afternoon of the 9th. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches (with locally higher amounts) in around 12 hours resulted in numerous reports of flooding. Isolated severe thunderstorms also resulted in a number of damaging wind gusts reports over the Piedmont, along with an EF1 tornado that impacted portions of Catawba and Iredell Counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.2220, -81.7520)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1160810. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.