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Flash Flood in Putnam County, West Virginia

Flash Flood May 26, 2018 · Putnam County, West Virginia

$3.0M
Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Following about three inches of rain in under three hours, flash flooding along Scary Creek, Hurricane Creek, Crooked Creek and Poplar Fork lead to significant flooding of roads, homes and businesses in the Teays Valley and Scott Depot areas. Especially hard hit were the areas of Beechwood Estates, Maplewood Estates and Barrington Woods. All sit right along Poplar Fork. Five water rescues were performed in eastern Putnam County, this includes three separate vehicles that drove into high water. About 80 houses were damaged by the flooding, with five sustaining major damage. Two businesses sustained damage, the Scott Depot Post Office and a karate studio. Eight vehicles were destroyed, and another 10 had some water damage.

The wider storm

The combination of daytime heating and an approaching upper level trough led to scattered thunderstorm development on the afternoon and evenings of the 26th, 27th and 28th. While these storms were slow moving, most moved enough to limit flooding. However, several storms stalled out or kept regenerating over one spot, leading to flash flooding.

Began near Lanham (38.4591, -81.7494).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 749983. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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