Flood — Alexander, North Carolina

2020-11-12 · near Vashti, Alexander, North Carolina

Event narrative

Although heavy rainfall tapered off across Alexander County throughout the morning, runoff from the earlier excessive rain continued to cause elevated stream levels and localized high water conditions to persist into the afternoon. A portion of a bridge over the South Yadkin collapsed on Cheatham Ford Rd during this time. Part of another bridge was washed out on Hopewell Church Rd (over Mill Creek). A 64-year-old man was killed when he drove his vehicle over the collapsed bridge. At least two other bridges were also compromised.

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 → (36.0270, -81.0500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 930828. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.