Flash Flood in Stokes County, North Carolina

Little Beaver Island Creek overflowed at least 25 feet out of its banks, and completely washed out a 30 foot wide section of Franklin Moore Road, leaving a large gap where the road used to be located. The road is completely impassible until repairs can be completed. No injuries were reported in this event. MRMS data indicated 6-hour rainfall amounts ending 9 pm EST were around 1.5 times that of 6-hour flash flood guidance, while the average recurrence interval for 6-hours was about a 25 year event.

A stationary front draped east to west across northern North Carolina provided the focus for training showers and thunderstorms during the evening of the 17th. Winds were from the east along the North Carolina & Virginia state border around high pressure centered over New England. The easterly windflow carried moist Atlantic air across Stokes and Rockingham Counties, with precipitable water values ranging from 1.5 to 1.7 inches during the evening. Several rounds of showers and storms passed across the area, with rainfall rates times exceeding four inches per hour per rain gage data and MRMS (Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor System) estimates. This caused flash flooding of several local waterways, with at least two roads washed out in Stokes County, as well as a water rescue of stranded motorists.