Flash Flood — Caldwell, North Carolina

2020-02-06 · near Lenoir, Caldwell, North Carolina

Event narrative

County comms reported flash flooding developed across portions of Caldwell County after 4 to 5.5 inches of rain fell in about 24 hours with much of that falling during the morning of the 6th. Multiple roads were closed due to a combination of poor drainage in urban areas and due to small stream flooding.

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 → (35.9130, -81.5690)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 878696. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.