Flood in Watauga County, North Carolina

A tributary of the Watauga River was observed out of its banks and flowing across Vineyard Lane between the Watauga River and Highway 105. No damage was reported and the road was open to traffic after the water receded.

A negatively-tilted trough passed from the western Gulf coast region early on the 29th northeast to the lower Ohio River Valley late in the day. This track resulted in strong southeasterly wind flow along the central Appalachians, carrying deep Atlantic moisture across the Blue Ridge on a 40 to 45 knot low level jet. Precipitable water values reached as high as 1.3 inches, which is around the 99th percentile for late December. A storm total rainfall amount of 1.5 to 2 inches was observed across the headwaters of the Watauga River, with locally higher amounts. Runoff from this rainfall caused brief and minor flooding of the Watauga River in Watauga County.