Flash Flood — Jackson, North Carolina

2020-04-13 · near Barkers Creek, Jackson, North Carolina

Event narrative

Spotters and emergency manager reported flash flooding developed across northwest Jackson County after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in just a few hours. The main impact was in the Barkers Creek watershed. Middle Fork Barkers Creek completely washed out a portion of Beachtree Rd. East Fork Barkers Creek washed out multiple culverts along Rockdale Rd. Flooding at the confluence of East Fork and West Fork Barkers Creek inundated Rockdale Rd and Barkers Creek Rd up to a foot of water entered a church at this location. Barkers Creek Rd was flooded in several other locations and the road shoulder scoured out in at least two locations. Dicks Creek also overflowed its banks and inundated Dicks Creek Rd north of Dillsboro trapping a deputy sheriff who had to be rescued.

Wider weather episode

A strong storm system impacted the Southeast, resulting in an area of widespread heavy rain and embedded strong to severe thunderstorms that moved across western North Carolina during the late night and early morning hours. Localized flash flooding, some of which was quite significant developed across the mountains. Isolated severe weather also occurred, mainly in the form of damaging wind gusts. Strong southerly gradient winds also caused some damage across mainly the high elevations of western North Carolina.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.3470, -83.3210)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 886210. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.