Heavy Rain in Martinsville (c) County, Virginia

The COOP observer at Martinsville (MARV2) recorded 3.85 inches for the 24 hour period ending 700 AM EST on the 19th. This is the highest daily May rainfall at this long-term station, with data back to 1931. The previous record was 3.17 inches set in 2017.

The synoptic pattern remained little changed from the previous day with deep moisture in place. Several bands of very heavy rainfall pushed north from the Carolinas in the late afternoon and evening as weak area of low pressure over the southeast lifted slowly northward. The slow-moving storms were highly efficient rainfall producers that affected number of areas in southside Virginia, most notably the Martinsville and Danville areas. Rainfall totals were generally 2 to 4 inches occurring over a several hour period with isolated higher amounts.