Heavy Rain — Roanoke (c), Virginia

2018-12-19 to 2018-12-20 · near Roanoke Arpt, Roanoke (c), Virginia

Event narrative

A record rainfall of 1.49 inches was set at Roanoke, VA (ROA) for December 20, breaking the old record of 1.31 inches set in 1946. Official climate records for Roanoke date back to 1912.

Wider weather episode

Another southern stream dominated system emerged from the southwestern U.S. with a complex surface low tracking from the Gulf Coast into the southern Mid-Atlantic December 20-22. This was again an all liquid event, with 2-day rainfall totals (ending 700 AM local time on 12/22) ranging from 1 to 4 inches with isolated higher amounts mainly along and near the Blue Ridge. The top five rainfall reports in southwest Virginia in this period included Jones Creek IFLOWS (JOEV2) 4.34 inches, Fancy Gap IFLOWS (FYGV2) 4.10 inches, Glasgow 1 SE COOP (GLAV2) 4.06 inches, Trappers Lodge IFLOWS (TRAV2) 3.71 inches and Pipers Gaps IFLOWS (PPGV2) 3.71 inches. Flooding very similar in magnitude and location to the mid-December event occurred with most of the Dan and lower Roanoke (Staunton) again reaching minor to low-end moderate flood levels. Minor flooding also occurred along portions of the New River with the gage at Alisonia (ALSV2) reaching minor flood stage of 8 feet in the evening of the 21st flooding a few roads near the river. In addition, a number of areal Flood Advisories and Warnings were issued for numerous counties after reports of flooded roads were received mainly on the evening of the 20th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.3300, -79.9800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 796375. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.