Flood in Tazewell County, Virginia

The Clinch River at Richlands (RLRV2) rose to an estimated 11.2 to 11.5 feet on the evening of the 31st, with flooding continuing into the early morning hours of February 1st. An exact crest is uncertain given the gage went out of service during the flooding event. Water was observed covering the ball fields at Critterville Park. Homes off of Alleghany Avenue and 4th Street, as well as along 1st Street, were observed surrounded by water. Some evacuations were conducted as a precaution, however there were no reports of flood waters from the Clinch River entering homes or causing vehicles to become stranded.

A deep low pressure system moved from the Four-Corners region east across the states bordering the Gulf of America. This resulted in deep moisture flow riding a southwesterly 50-knot low level jet from the Gulf through the central Appalachians and the upper Ohio River Valley beginning on January 31st, with precipitable water values rapidly increasing into the 1.1 to 1.2 inch range by sunrise across most of the lower Mid-Atlantic. These values were roughly 2 standard deviations above normal for early February. Snow cover prior to the event was confined to the higher terrain of the Alleghany Highlands, with localized snow-water equivalent totals ranging from 1.1 to 1.8 inches. Steady rainfall entered central and western Virginia early on the 31st and persisted through around 7 pm before exiting to the east. Storm total rainfall amounts with this event ranged mainly from 1.75 to 2.50, though with locally higher and lower amounts. Prior to the event, multiple stream gages across the upper James River basin were reporting flows that were below normal, ranging between the 10th to 24th percentile of 28-day average streamflows, though soil moisture was in the normal range. D0: Abnormally Dry conditions were in place per the US Drought Monitor.