Flash Flood — Waynesboro (c), Virginia

2001-03-21 · near Waynesboro, Waynesboro (c), Virginia

Wider weather episode

A Nor'easter moved from the North Carolina Coast to New England from the 20th to the 22nd. As it passed by the Mid Atlantic region, it dropped heavy precipitation between midnight and mid afternoon on the 21st. Below 2000 feet, the precipitation fell in the form of rain. Across the Shenandoah Valley and just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the storm system dropped between 2 and 5 inches of rain which resulted in flash flooding. Some of the highest regional rainfall totals included 5.48 inches at Robinson Hollow in Augusta County, 4.44 inches at Big Meadows in Page County, 4.36 inches at Strasburg Reservoir in Shenandoah County, and 3.13 inches at Waynesboro. Numerous roads and low water crossings were closed by high water in Frederick, Augusta, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, Culpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Orange, Madison, Rockingham, and Clarke Counties. Rainfall amounts between 1 and 2.5 inches were reported across the Central Piedmont and across counties bordering the Potomac River. In Stafford County, River Road and Route 607 were flooded. In Loudoun County, portions of Route 652, 653, 607, 746, 790 were covered by water. In Alexandria, portions of King Street were closed by high water. Above 2000 feet, a rain/snow mix was reported. Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches were documented across Highland and western Augusta Counties. Along Skyline Drive, 2 to 5 inches of snow fell. After the precipitation ended on the 21st, northwest winds increased to between 25 and 45 MPH. Recorded wind gusts included 47 MPH at New Market in Shenandoah County, 44 MPH at Charlottesville and Washington Reagan National Airport, and 41 MPH at Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County. The gusty winds downed a tree onto a shed near Conicville in Shenandoah County. In Fairfax County, a tree was downed onto a power line in Woodbridge and Springfield and a tree fell onto the Fairfax County Parkway. In the city of Fairfax, a downed tree blocked a portion of Gunpowder Road.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5239497. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.