Flood — Union, North Carolina

2018-09-16 to 2018-09-17 · near Olive Branch, Union, North Carolina

Event narrative

Although heavy rain ended across Union County during the evening, EM reported high water conditions continued through the overnight, as waters were slow to recede in light of the 7 to 13 inches that fell across the county in about 24 hours. During the morning of the 17th, an 88 year-old man drowned when he drove his vehicle through a swollen tributary on Landsford Dr.

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 787914. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.