Flash Flood — Wilkes, North Carolina

2009-05-26 · near Wilkes Co Arpt, Wilkes, North Carolina

Event narrative

Moravian Creek flooded and closed Germantown Road near Moravian Falls, and School Street in Wilkesboro. Twenty-seven people were evacuated from their homes along Moravian Creek, near Germantown Road, and six mobile homes were destroyed. Wilkesboro Community College received damage from the flooding of Moravian Creek. The grounds were heavily damaged, as was several buildings. The flooded creek eventually led to the collapse of a 150 foot long, 20 foot wide section of U.S. Highway 421 East exit ramp lane in Wilkesboro, which occurred during the early morning of May 27th. Monetary damages include this road collapse.

Wider weather episode

A tropical air mass was in place, with a weak front north across Virginia. Southeast flow into the mountains and the frontal boundary set the stage for heavy rain producing showers and thunderstorms. Heavy rains across southern Wilkes County dumped close to 4 inches in a short amount of time. Flash flooding occurred across the Moravian, Hunting and Warrior creek basins...inundating roads and homes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.1434, -81.1783)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 172713. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.