Flash Flood in Bath County, Virginia

After at least 3 inches of rain had already fall in the upper reaches of Back Creek during the previous day, resulting in saturated soil conditions, heavy rain from a line of thunderstorms caused Back Creek to rise quickly to a stage of 8.87 feet per the USGS stream gauge near Sunrise. This rise caused Back Creek to rapidly flood across Virginia Route 39, closing the road until the flood waters receded. Key Impacts: flooded & impassible roadway; transportation delays.

Multiple waves of energy passing along a stalled frontal boundary near the Ohio River resulted in several rounds of prolonged and, at times, heavy rain across the northern half of Bath County. In the 48 hour period ending 10 am on the 28th, the northern half of Bath County had already received between 2 to locally 3.25 inches of rainfall from shower and thunderstorm activity. Snow pack prior to the arrival of the rainfall was confined to the highest ridge tops, where locally up to 4 inches was on the ground. By the morning of the 28th, soils were almost completely saturated, resulting in efficient runoff of rainfall from showers and thunderstorms that would occur during the evening.