Flash Flood — Wilkes, North Carolina

2024-05-18 · near Hunting Creek, Wilkes, North Carolina

Event narrative

Runoff from a radar-estimated four to five inches of rainfall caused Fishing Creek to flood out of its banks. Heavy runoff was also observed flooding the pit area inside the Wilkesboro Speedway about 2.5 feet deep, with several race staff walking in knee-high water per video uploaded to social media. Flooding also impacted a campground nearby the speedway. Wilkesboro road was also reported flooded and impassible to traffic. No damage was reported directly related to the flooding.

Wider weather episode

An upper level trough passed across the central Appalachians during the afternoon and evening of May 18th, triggering widely scattered showers and thunderstorms to the north of a stationary front stretching across northern North Carolina. Upper level winds ahead of the trough were light. Moisture was abundant, with precipitable water values ranging from 1.2 to 1.3 inches across northwest North Carolina, while surface dewpoint temperatures were observed in the mid to upper 60s. Mixed Layer CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) values observed during the afternoon and evening were in excess of 1,000 J/Kg. The thunderstorms that developed during the afternoon and evening were localized but extremely efficient at producing rainfall, with rates within several storms exceeding four inches per hour. They were also slow-moving, allowing the storms to remain over locations for extended periods of time.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.1483, -81.0701)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1175340. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.