Heavy Rain — Manassas (c), Virginia

2003-03-20 · near Countywide, Manassas (c), Virginia

Wider weather episode

Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain fell region wide on the 20th. The heavy precipitation caused flooding of low lying areas and waterways across much of the northern third of Virginia. In Rockingham County, Union Spring Run overflowed near the intersection of routes 743 and 731 near Ottobine. A stream running through James Madison University in Harrisonburg overflowed it banks. In Albemarle County, a few roads were closed by flooding. In Madison County, 8 state roads were closed by high water. In Orange County, 13 state roads were closed by high water. In Culpeper County, 20 state roads were closed by high water. In Spotsylvania County, a handful of roads were closed by flooding. In King George County, water overflowed from ditches onto roads. In Stafford County, many secondary roads were underwater. In Prince William County, Aden Road near Nokesville and Valley View Road were closed by high water. In Fauquier County, small streams overflowed their banks northeast of Warrenton. In Fairfax County, Richmond Highway was flooded at Gunstore Road. Woodlawn Road was flooded at Spicewood Road. In Loudoun County, Evergreen Mills Road was partially flooded. In Warren County, about a dozen roads were closed by high water including Happy Creek Road, Eighth Street, and Ritenour Hollow Road. Bridges that were closed by flooding included Morgan's Ford near Harmony Hollow Road and at Buck Mountain near Bentonville. In Shenandoah County, 27 roads were closed by flooding. In Frederick County, a motorist had to be rescued on Sulphur Springs Road when his car was stranded after trying to cross a water covered bridge over Opequon Creek. The Cedar Creek bridge on Route 11, south of Middletown, was nearly closed by rising water. A total of 15 roads were shut down by flooding countywide. In Winchester, University Drive was flooded by runoff.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5347956. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.