ROANOKE, Va. – 4.27 inches of rain fell in less than 2 hours Thursday night. The odds of this happening are 1 in 500.
The City of Roanoke hasn’t seen an Emergency Flash Flood Warning since Hurricane Michael back in 2018.
Daily rainfall records were shattered, and this event resulted in the 3rd highest one-day rainfall total for the month of August, and the 13th highest one-day rainfall total on record.
Here is a look at rainfall totals from the past 24 hours. Areas right along US 220 saw the greatest impacts, with multiple locations receiving well over 2 inches of rain (highlighted in yellow) in a short timeframe.
What we saw last night is what we meteorologists call ‘echo training.’ This is when successive thunderstorms or cells move over the same area during a brief or prolonged period of time. In many instances, this can result in flooding and/or flash flooding. This is exactly what occurred Thursday night between 7 and 11 p.m.
Areas in Botetourt, Roanoke and Franklin counties saw the greatest impacts Thursday. Several roadways, a few apartment complexes, and low-lying areas were flooded as a result.
The flood threat remains elevated this weekend as more showers and storms will push across the region. Some cells will bring heavy pockets of rain that could become stagnant at times.
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