Flash Flood — Buchanan, Virginia

2025-02-15 · near Kelsa, Buchanan, Virginia

Event narrative

Flash flooding began to impact multiple roads in the Hurley area by mid afternoon. Within the next couple of hours, rising waters submerged roads, impacted homes, and trapped residents in several locations. Floodwaters also rose halfway up the legacy bank building in Hurley. Impacted locations included Paw Paw Road, Rustic Road, McKracken Road, Guesses Fork Road, Hurley Road, Tree Top Road, Dan Branch Road, Lesters Fork Road, Race Fork Road, Cedar Branch Road, and Knox Creek Drive.

Wider weather episode

Light precipitation entered into southeast Virginia on the evening of February 14th, with more substantial rain spreading across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. Moderate to heavy rain continued to push overhead for the next 24 hours as low pressure tracked across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. Rain turned to snow as cold air moved in behind a cold front, then light snow showers lingered into the 17th.

Three to five inches of rain fell across portions of southwest Virginia during this period of time, resulting in considerable to catastrophic damage for several communities. A flash flood emergency was issued for Buchanan and Dickenson Counties in southwest Virginia. In addition to numerous impassable roads, flood waters rose halfway up a bank building in Hurley. Water rescues and evacuations took place as vehicles became stranded and water began to impact homes near Grundy.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.4738, -82.0213)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1238516. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.