Flood — Salem (c), Virginia

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

Event narrative

Flooding occurred along portions of Mason Creek threatening several mobile home parks but causing no evacuations. The Mason Creek gage (MSCV2) crested at 7.5 feet (Minor Flood Stage = 7 ft.) around midday and remained above flood stage through mid-afternoon.

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 → (37.2885, -80.0291)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 676814. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.