Flash Flood — Ashe, North Carolina

2024-08-29 · near Fig, Ashe, North Carolina

Event narrative

Runoff from heavy rain flowed down Rich Hill Creek and overflowed its banks several inches deep across Rich Hill Road and, eventually, Highway 88 in the community of Fig. Roaring Fork Road was also flooded in spots by Roaring Fork rising out of its banks. No damage was reported to the road, and it was open to traffic after the water receded.

Wider weather episode

A strong cold front was centered over the region and was the trigger for showers and storms. One of these storms produced damaging winds which brought down three trees in northwest Ashe County. The same storm produced rain falling at rates of three to four inches per hour, with 2.5 to three inches falling during about a 60-75 minute period. MRMS FLASH data estimated the storm peaked at around a 40-year Average Recurrence Interval for a one-hour duration, with rainfall totals reaching around 90 percent of the one-hour Flash Flood Guidance. CREST Unit Streamflow peaked at nearly 500 cfs per mi^2 during the storm.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.4525, -81.6029)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1214882. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.