Flash Flood — Galax (c), Virginia

2010-08-17 · near Galax, Galax (c), Virginia

Event narrative

Local law enforcement reported street closures due to high water. Givens Street and Shaw street were closed. Water was also reported flowing across Railroad Avenue. The water treatment plant reported 1.80 inches of rain.

Wider weather episode

The period from August 17-19 became very active hydrologically as a frontal boundary stalled out across the region and a series of upper-air impulses helped to trigger fairly widespread convection. Forecasters recognizing this potentially very wet pattern issued a Flash Flood Watch the afternoon of the 17th. By early evening the same day, thunderstorms were training over Galax, VA and vicinity with rainfall amounts up to 1.5 to 2.5 inches in several hours. Maximum 24-hour rain gage totals ending at 12Z on the 18th within the warned area included Blackburn Knob IFLOWS 3.82', Grayson Highland IFLOWS 3.12 and Galax Water Plant COOP 2.90'.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.6700, -80.9200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 256596. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.