Flash Flood in Henderson County, North Carolina

Multiple sources reported significant flash flooding developed across northeast Henderson County after 4 to 7 inches of rain fell on the slopes of Bearwallow Mountain in just a couple of hours. The main impact was to Clear Creek and its tributaries, including Puncheon Camp Creek, Cox Creek, and Laurel Fork. A culvert washed out underneath a section of Highway 74 in the Gerton community, forcing closure of the road for a few days. A section of Bearwallow Rd was also washed out in the Edneyville area. Multiple other roads were inundated and closed throughout the area, while multiple culverts under private driveways and some small bridges were reportedly washed out or damaged. A few homes were briefly isolated due to washed out culverts or flooded roads. The high flows on Clear Creek, combined with subsequent heavy rainfall in the Mud Creek basin resulted in the French Broad River rising to bankfull in Flecther and vicinity.

Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening. A series of thunderstorm cells became anchored on the slopes of Bearwallow Mountain in Henderson County, resulting in torrential rainfall that lasted for a couple of hours, resulting in flash flooding.