Flash Flood — Caldwell, North Carolina

2020-11-12 · near Richland, Caldwell, North Carolina

Event narrative

A stream gauge on the Yadkin River near Patterson exceeded its established flood stage after 4 to 7 inches fell across the basin, with much of that falling in only 3 hours or so between midnight and daybreak on the 12th. Multiple roads and some homes were inundated in the Happy Valley community, especially between Highway 268 and the river. Additionally, a few mudslides developed in the Yadkin basin, including a large one that covered/closed Kirby Mountain Rd north of Patterson.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Cyclone Eta moved from the eastern Gulf of Mexico, across the northern Florida peninsula, to off the South Carolina coast throughout the 11th and 12th. Tropical moisture streaming into the Carolinas throughout this time resulted in development of heavy rainfall, with widespread rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts across the foothills and Piedmont of North Carolina. This resulted in areas of flash flooding and main stem river flooding, some of which was significant, resulting in multiple fatalities and significant damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.0400, -81.6070)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 930558. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.