Flood — Rockingham, North Carolina

2024-09-18 · near Madison, Rockingham, North Carolina

Event narrative

Madison River Park was observed flooded several feet deep as the Dan River at Madison rose out of its banks. It is unclear if releases from releases from Belews Lake several miles upstream from the park played a role in the flooding as there is no stream gage along the Dan River between Pine Hall and Wentworth. Damage estimates are related to cleanup of the park after the flooding receded.

Wider weather episode

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.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.3741, -79.9930)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1218729. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.