Flood — Salem (c), Virginia

2017-01-23 to 2017-01-24 · near Salem (c), Salem (c), Virginia

Event narrative

Mill Lane bridge in Salem closed due to flooding from the Roanoke River. The IFLOWS gage at Salem Pump Station (SPSV2) crested at 8.5 feet (Minor Flood Stage = 7 feet) during the early afternoon of the 23rd and remained above flood stage into the morning of 24th.

Wider weather episode

A powerful upper low developed over the south central states late on January 21st with an intense surface low tracking from Arkansas to the northern mid-Atlantic coast over the next few days. Storm total rainfall ranged from 1 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts across the Blacksburg CWA during the 48-hour period ending 7 PM on the 24th. Record daily rainfall records were set for January 23rd at Roanoke Airport (1.87'; old record 0.91' set in 1999), Bluefield Airport (1.53'; old record 0.91' set in 2002) and Blacksburg NWS (1.32'; old record 0.88' set in 1954). Flooding was generally minor and concentrated in the Roanoke metro area and on the lower reaches of several rivers.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.2847, -80.0844)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 676813. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.