Debris Flow — Macon, North Carolina

2020-04-13 · near Cartoogechaye, Macon, North Carolina

Event narrative

Emergency manager and geological survey team reported damaging debris flows developed in the Cartoogechaye Creek watershed, primarily originating on the northwest and southeast slopes of Dobson Mountain between West Old Murphy Rd and Patton Rd after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell in less than 8 hours. A commercial facility was damaged on Maxwell Home Rd and there was damage to residential buildings on Turkey Pen Rd. Significant road damage also occurred at Turkey Pen Rd and Enchanted Mountain Rd.

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 → (35.1510, -83.4640)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 887505. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.