Flash Flood — Polk, North Carolina

2020-02-06 · near Valhalla, Polk, North Carolina

Event narrative

Media reported flash flooding developed across Polk County after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell across the county in about 24 hours with much of that falling during the morning of the 6th. The main streams impacted were the North Pacolet River and several of its tributaries in the Tryon area and Green Creek and its tributaries in the Mill Spring area. Numerous roads were inundated and impassable/closed due to flooding of these and other streams. The North Pacolet flooded several roads in the Lynn community just north of Tryon. In the Columbus area, Fox Mountain Rd was flooded by White Oak Creek and its tributaries in several spots. Urban and poor drainage flooding was also reported in Columbus, and more than a dozen people were rescued after being trapped by flood water. In the Mill Spring and Green Creek area, Green Creek and its tributaries inundated such roads as Coxe Rd, East Green Creek Rd, and Solen Williams Rd.

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 western North Carolina 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 rather widespread flash flooding. Isolated tornadoes also developed during this time across the Piedmont. Total rainfall of 3 to 6 inches resulted in flooding persisting along some main stem rivers and larger streams well into the 7th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.2330, -82.2630)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 878346. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.