Flash Flood — Union, North Carolina

2018-09-16 · near Olive Branch, Union, North Carolina

Event narrative

EM reported severe flash flooding developed across Union County after 7 to 13 inches of rain fell across the county in about 24 hours. Dozens of roads were closed at the height of the event during the afternoon of the 16th, some due to poor drainage flooding in urban areas, and others due to small stream flooding, including Goose Creek in the Indian Trail area, where a stream gauge exceeded its established flood stage. Multiple water rescues were necessary, and some homes were isolated by flood waters. A one-year-old boy drowned when his parent drove a vehicle around a barricade and into a swollen creek on Highway 218.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Cyclone Florence made landfall on the 15th and moved slowly west while weakening through the 16th. Widespread rainfall of 4 to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts fell across western North Carolina over a 36-48 hour period, with the highest totals reported along the Blue Ridge escarpment, and in southern and eastern sections of the Charlotte Metro area. Localized flash flooding was reported in these areas, with severe flash flooding reported across Union County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.1460, -80.3240)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 787887. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.