Flash Flood — Bedford, Virginia

2024-08-03 · near Peaksville, Bedford, Virginia

Event narrative

Rainfall rates during the storm at times exceeded four inches per hour. MRMS FLASH data estimated the one-hour Average Recurrence Interval for this event was around a 50-year event, with one-hour rainfall totals maxing around 130 percent of one-Hour Flash Flood Guidance. Water was observed flowing at least two feet deep across Highway 43 near the intersection with Kelso Mill Road. No damage was reported to the road, which was open to traffic after the water receded.

Wider weather episode

A nearly stationary front across western Virginia, combined with

abundant moisture, helped to generate widespread showers and thunderstorms. A few of the thunderstorms increased to severe levels and produced damaging winds. Rainfall rates in several of the storms ranged from three to locally five inches per hour.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.3977, -79.5532)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1213585. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.