Flash Flood — Habersham, Georgia

2020-02-06 · near Clarkesville, Habersham, Georgia

Event narrative

A stream gauge on the Soque River in Clarkesville exceeded its established flood stage after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in the basin in less than 18 hours, with the bulk of that falling in about a 6-hour period during the morning of the 6th. Pitts Park in Clarkesville was flooded, as were multiple roads along the river and some of its tributaries.

Wider weather episode

Unusually high levels of moisture for early February combined with a slow-moving frontal system to produce an extended period of moderate to heavy rainfall across northeast Georgia from the morning of the 5th until the early morning hours of the 7th. Intense rain rates associated with bands of heavy rain showers and embedded thunderstorms developing along the front during the morning and afternoon of the 7th resulted in flash flooding. Total rainfall of 3 to 6 inches occurred across the area.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.6220, -83.5280)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 874645. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.