Flash Flood — Buchanan, Virginia

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

Event narrative

Water entered homes along Home Creek Road, Riverside Drive near the volunteer fire department, and Bull Creek Road. Water also approached homes on Stiltners Bottom Road. Residents became trapped and in need of rescue along Contrary Creek and Greenbrier Road. Watkins Branch Road was also impacted by flooding.

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 → (37.3961, -82.1572)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1238604. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.